i
fbl^t a leaff ^omnpy^ ^lurl toaffc broufnr
Tn ahftmirkr or biotrpy bmfl roaftghot
S^c "iEU^abciIjan Xibrarg.
r
tc| 1^ r-^
I
ri
t
Hit ^11-1
i- Tat 8 1>.^ ,
Green Paftures
Being Choice Extrafts from
the Works of Robert Greene,
M.A., of both Univerfities
i56o(?)-i592. Madeby
Alexander B.
Grofart
r
LONDON
ELLIOT STOCK, 62, Paternoster Row
1894
INTRODUCTION.
FnoAf an Author fo volu?ninous that his
collective * Life and Works ' extend to no
fewer than fifteen confiderable volumes {in
the * Huth Library '), the difficulty has not
been to find materials for a volume of our
Elizabethan Library^ but what to fele^.
For example^ it was very foon difcovered that
fomeofhis mo ft charaSleriftic writings muft be
left abfolutely untouched^ inafmuch as any oney
^•i'i of the Coney-catching Series , or of the
Autobiographical Series, would alone over-
fiow into two or morefuch volumes, fo matter-
fulare they, andfo itnpofftble is it to reprefent
their higheft qualities by brief extracts.
In reluSlantly but inevitably leaving thefe
afide, I venture to fay that no books contain
more vivid word-pi5lures of Englift^ low-
life in the reign of Elizabeth than do thefe.
They are bitten in with marvellous Dutch-
vi IniroduHion.
like minutcnefs of touch. As for his perfonnl
narratives of penitence and confejfton^ I for
one do not envy the man who can read them
with unwet eyes. There is a burning truth,
a pathetic integrity, a weird power about
them that neighbour thefe fadly little known
books with De Quincey^s * Confejftons^ and
reduce to commonplace thoje of RouJJeau.
The letters and appeals to his wife and evil
affociates thrill to-day the mojl fjh- blooded
reader. Only fuch a ghoul as Gabriel
Harvey could doubt their ftncerity. I
indulge the hope that fome readers of thefe
words of mine, and of this booklet, will be
Jiirred to feek accefs to the following {their
title-pages fummarily given):
I. Coney-catching Series.
{a) A notable Difcovery of coofnage now
daily pra^ifed by fun dry lewd perfons called
Connie-catchers and Croffe-biters . . . 1 59 1.
{b) The fccond parte . . . 1 59 1.
(r) The thirde parte . . . with the new
devifed knavijh art of Foole-taking . . ,
1592.
Introdu5lion. vii
{d) A Difputation between a Hee Conny-
Catcher and a Shee Conny-Catcher . . .
1592.
{e) Th Black Bookes Mejfenger, laying
open the Life and Death of Ned Browne,
one of the moji notable Cutpurfes, Cr off-
biters and Conny-catchers that ever lived
in England ... 1592. Then ?nujl be read
{Works, vol. xi., pp. 39-104) the attack on
above books.
(f) The Defence of Conny-catching, or
a Confutation ofthofe two injurious Pamph-
lets, publijhed by R. G., againji the prac-
tioners of many nimble-witted and myjiical
Sciences . . . 1592.
2. Autobiographical Series.
(g) Greenes Groat' s-worth of Wit, bought
with a Million of Repentance . . . 1592.
(h) The Repentance of Robert Greene,
Majier of Artes . . . 1592.
(/) Greene's Vifon, written at the infant
of his death . . . 1592.
To thefe mujl be added his numerous
viii Introdu^ion.
EpiftUs' dedicatory and prefatory. They
have all perfonal alluftons of the mojl in-
ter efling fort. Jfjould gladly have brought
them together. I have been compelled to
limit myl'elfto aftnglc example — the Epiftle-
dedicatory to * Perimides the Blackfmith.^
There is exceptional gracioufness and dainti-
nefs of phrafing in all his Epijiles.
After exclufion [fpeaking broadly) of the
whole of thefe, there remain materials for at
leajl five feparate volumes equal to the
prefcnt.
{a) Apophthegms and Apt Sayings,
many of them long paffed into proverbs ,
albeit certain were probably contemporary
proverbs that were worked into the fever al
books. Our few ^ handfuls of purpofe^
will demonfrate how full a harveft might
have been reaped in this field.
{b) The Plays. Eheul eheul We
have the mere '-fiotfam and jet [am * of his
prolific pen ^for the theatre^ But in the
two volumes of his Works {xiii. and xiv.)
his four furviving Plays abound in * brave
Introduction.
IX
tranjiutiary things.* We have Jiriven to
prefent typical fpecimens. It was our good
fortune to be the firji to reclaim the ex-
tremely remarkable play of ' Selimus ' for
Greene.
{c) Manners, customs, ta^hio-h^ games
and fports, fuperfitions, town and country
ongoings, odd characters, feajis andfejiivals,
etc., etc., find all but inexhaufiible i I lufi ra-
tion in thefe pre-eminently manners -painting
books. One wonders that fo full a quarry
has been fo little worked. Compilers might
have made their meagre pages rich fro?n
almoft any one of the volumes enumerated.
See vol. XV. of Works — Gloffarial Index
— fpecial lifts, etc., etc.; alfo under ' A5lors
and Players ' in the prefent volume, which,
a la France, are to be read between the
lines.
Within our narrow limits we have {it is
believed) furnijhed enough to make it clear
that young Greene was no ?nerely grotefque
rival to young William Shakefpeare. It
Introduction.
lies on the fur face that if only the * wrecked
life ' had found a friend and helper in his
(later) mighty contemporary^ that is if
co-operation had been fought — not antagonifm
— Englifh literature fhould have been the
certain gainer. We are fo ufed to idolatrize
Shakefpeare becaufe of his fimply incom-
parable genius, that we fhirk inquiring
into his relations with his pre cur for s and con-
temporaries. I for one feel fatisfied that
fuller knowledge of thefe would prove that
for yearSy when feeling his way upward,
Shakefpeare was a very buccaneer in ^ fpoil-
ing the Egyptians^ or unmetaphorically in
turning to his own account the MS. writ-
ings of unfortunate contemporaries who
were confi rained to write for the theatres.
On thefe and cognate matters I mufi refer
the reader to Profeffor Storojenko's * Life '
of Greene, with our annotations, which
form vol. i. of the Works.
I would fpecially com?nend the V Allegro
and Penferofo-like burfis of mufical fong
that will be found in this volume. The
Introdu^ion.
{fo-called) Pajiorals have exquijite touches
and Jinejl-wrought rhyme and rhythm.
The Love-Jongs are tender and pajjjonate.
The ' comic vein ' is genuine. His patriotic
Jlanding-up for the * common people^ {'^-S'^ ^^
' The Pinner of Wakefield') is hifiorically
?nofi noticeable. Altogether I /hall be dif-
appointed if our * Green Pajiures ' — the
pun being permij/ible, as was Spurgeon's
' Stones from Ancient Brooks * ( = Thomas
Brooks, the Purita?i)—be not welcomed as
a pleafant furprife to be placed befide our
' Bower of Delight'' of "Nicolas Breton.
/ clo/e with a quotation fro?n myfelf —
' / rnufi take this frejh opportunity of re-
calling that as the converfe of Herrick's
famous (or infamous) pleading, that if his
verfe were impure, his life was chafte,
Greene's writings are exceptionally clean.
Nor mujl he be refufed the benefit of this
in any judicial eftifnate of him. It is equally
harjh and uncritical to fay that this confeffedly
difo lute-living man wrote purely becaufe it
paid him to do fo. It did no fuch thing.
xii IntroduElion.
It would have paid, and did pay, to write
impurely, and as minijlering to the unchajie
appetite of readers for garbage. To kis
undying honour, Robert Greene, — equally
with James Thomson, — left fcarce a li?ie
that dying he need have wijhed " to blot."
I can't under f and the nature of anyone who
can think hardly of Greene in the light of
his ultimate penitence and ahfolute confef[ion.
It is (if the comparijon be not over-hold) as
though one had taunted David with his fn
after the 5 \Ji P/alm ' {Editors Introdu^ion
to Life : Works, i., pp. xix-xx).
A. B. G.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Abatements
I
Abominable, Ahhominabk .
2
ASfors and A Sting .
3
Englijh Player
7
Good Advices
9
To Young Men
10
Unvenerable Old Age
12
Apophthegms and Apt Sayings
13
Alliteration
24
A Noble Head — Friar Bacon
25
Friar Bacon
26
Beauty — a Song
27
Bohemia — S hake/pear e Illujiration .
28
Chajlity — an Ode .
28
Comedy
30
A Contented Mind .
45
xiv
Contents,
PAGE
Content .
. 46
j4 Country Beauty ,
47
Cradle Song
50
Cupid
. 51
The Eagle and the Fly
. S2
An Epijlle Dedicatory
54
Fancy
56
Old Englijh Flozuers
. 58
The Englijh Fop and Florentim
Contemporaries
60
Idlenefs .
62
Jealoufy .
. 62
Kings
63
Soliloquy of Selimus — Ufurper ana
Tyrant
65
Jonah's Appeal to London and Englana
^ 73
Dijpraife of Love ,
75
Love ( = Cupid as a Child) .
76
Love's Treachery .
77
Doron's Defer iption of Samel a
79
N'oferez vous, mon bel Ami ?
80
Eurymachus' Fancy in the Prime oj
r
his Affeaion .
83
Contents.
XV
Love
Fajftonate Lovers .
Eur^machus in Praife of Mirimida
Love—lVhat ?
Gentle Courtjhips RejeSled .
George a Greene and Beatrice ( Bettri.
Love-Supplanter
Love no Mortal Pajjton
Silvejiro^s Ladylove
Menalcas — The Prodigal's Return
Miferrifnus
Palmer's Ode
Another of the Sa?ne
The Penitent Palmer's Ode
Pajioral .
Pajloral .
Phillis and Coridon
Pajioral .
Pajloral .
Pajloral .
Pajloral .
IJabeWs Ode
Pajioral ,
89
90
91
94
96
97
98
lOI
102
103
109
112
114
116
119
123
125
129
132
133
136
139
xvi
Contents.
PAGE
PaJIoral .
. 140
Perfeverance Wins .
. 141
Word-Portraits
• H2
Potatoes
. 148
Time
. 148
The Tongue
149
Travels
. 152
Ufury
. 153
Vengeance Implored
154
Venus and Adonis .
155
Adonis Reproved
157
Venus ViSlrix
159
Woman ....
161
The Yeoman and Peafantry of Ola
'
England
:64
Youth Degenerate .
,70
Woman's Eyes .
170
The Dead Wife foon Forgotten
172
1
r
c
ABATEMENTS.
The ftlfFcft metal yieldeth to the ftamp,
the ftrongell: oak to the carpenter's axe,
the hard flcel to the file, and the ftouteft
heart doth bow when Nature bids him
bend. . . . There is no adamant fuch
which the blood of a goat cannot make
foft, no tree fo found which the fcarab
fly will not pierce, no iron fo hard which
ruft will not fret, no mortal thing fo
fure which Time will not confume, nor
no man fo valiant which cometh not
without excufe when Death doth call.
The phcenix hath black pens as well as
gliftcring feathers, the purell wine hath
his lees, the luckiell year hath his cani-
cular days. Venus had a mole in her
face, and Adonis a fear upon his chin.
There was fometimcs thunder heard in
the Temple of Peace, and Fortune is
never fo favourable but ihe is as fickle :
Green Pastures.
her profpcrity is ever fauced with the
four drops of advcrfity, being conftant
in nothing but in inconftancy. Scipio
efcapcd many foreign broils, but, re-
turning home in triumph, was flain with
a tile. Caefar conquered the whole
world, yet was cowardly flain in the
Senate. So Bonfadio. . . . (Morando :
the ' Tritamcron of Love ' [1517], iii.,
pp. 51, 52.)
r
ABOMINABLE, ABHOMIN-
ABLE.
The defire of his fond afFeftion fo
blinded his underftanding that he paufed
not to pervert both human and Divine
laws for the accomplifliment thereof:
no rules of rcafon, no fear of laws, no
pricks of confcience, no refpeft of
honefly, no regard of God or man, could
prohibit him from his peftiferous pur-
pofe : for if laws had been of force,
he knew his deed was contrary to all
laws, in violating his facred oath ; of
confcience, he knew it terrible ; of
honefly, he knew it moft wicked ; of
Abominable^ Abhoyninable.
God or man, he knew it abominable in
the fight of both ('Mamillia' [1583],
ii., p. 118). [Narcs annotates on this
word : * A pedantic affcdation of more
correal fpeaking, founded upon a falfe
notion of the etymology ; fuppofmg it
to be from ab hom'me inllead of abom'mor^
which is the true derivative. Shake-
fpeare has ridiculed this affedlation in
the charafter of the pedant Holoferncs :
" They are abhominable, which he [Don
Armado] would call abominable "
("Love's Labour's Loft," v., i). But it
was not necelTarily pedantic fo to fpell.
As fimple matter of fail, the word
carried in it for long meanings corre-
fpondent with the double derivation. —
G.]
r
ACTORS AND ACTING.''
So highly were Comedies efteemed in
thofe days [of Terence and Plautus in
Rome], that men of great honour and
grave account were the adlors, the
Senate and the confuls continually pre-
fent as auditors at all fuch fports,
* See Introduction.
B 2
Green Pastures.
rewarding the author with rich rewards,
according to the excellency of the
Comedy. Thus continued this faculty
famous, till covetoufnefs crept into the
quality, and that mean men, greedy of
gains, did fall to pradife the afting of
fuch plays, and in the theatre prefcnted
their Comedies, but to fuch only as re-
warded them well for their pains. When
thus Comedians grew to be mercenaries,
then men of accompt left to praftife
fuch paftimes, and difdaincd to have
their honours blcmifhcd with the ftain
of fuch bafe and vile gains : infomuch
that both Comedies and Tragedies grew
to lefs accompt in Rome, in that the
free fight of fuch fports was taken away
by covetous dcfires ; yet the people (who
arc delighted with fuch novelties and
paftimcs) made great refort, paid largely
and highly applauded their doings, in-
fomuch that the A6lors, by continual
ufe, grew not only excellent but rich
and infolent. Amongft whom in the
days of Tully one Rofcius grew to be of
fuch cxquifite perfe6lion in his faculty,
that he offered to contend with the
orators of that time in gefture, as they
did in eloquence ; boafting that he could
Actors and Acting.
cxprcfs a paflion in as many fundry
adllons as Tully could difcourfc it in
variety of phrafes : yea, fo proud he
grew by the daily applaufe of people,
that he looked for honour and reverence
to be done him in the ftreets : which
felf-conceit when Tully entered into
with a piercing infight, he quipped at in
this manner.
It chanced that Rofcius and he met
at a dinner, both guefls unto Archias
the poet, where the proud Comedian
dared to make comparifon with Tully ;
which infolency made the learned orator
to grow into thefe terms : 'Why, Rofcius,
art thou proud with ^fop's crow, being
pranked with the glory of other's
feathers ? Of thyfelf thou canft fay noth-
ing, and if the cobler hath taught thee
to say Ave C^far, difdain not thy tutor
becaufe thou prateft in a king's chamber.
What fentence thou uttereft on the
llage, flows from the cenfure of our
wits, and what fentence or conceit of
the invention the people applaud for
excellent, that comes from the fccrets
of our knowledge. I grant your action,
though it be a kind of mechanical
labour, yet well done 'tis worthy of
Green Pastures.
praifc ; but you worthlcfs, if for fo
fmall a toy you wax proud.*
At this Rofcius waxed red and be-
wrayed his imperfcftion with filence ;
but this check of Tully could not keep
others from the blemifh of that fault,
for it grew to a general vice amongft
the Adors, to cxccll in pride as they
did exceed in excellence, and to brave it
in the Greets as they brag it on the ftagc :
fo that they revelled it in Rome in fuch
coftly robes, that they feemed rather
men of great patrimony than fuch as
lived by the favour of the people.
Which Publius Scrvilius very well
noted ; for he, being the fon of a
fcnator and a man very valiant, met on
a day with a player in the ftrccts richly
apparelled, who fo far forgat himfelf
that he took the wall of the young
nobleman ; which Scrvilius taking in
difdain, countcrchecked with this frump:
* My friend (quoth he), be not fo brag of
thy filkcn robes, for I faw them but
ycftcrday make a great fhow in a broker's
(hop.* At this the one was afliamcd and
the other fmiled, and they which heard
the quip laughed at the folly of the one
and the wit of the other. Thus, fir,
English Player.
have you heard my opinion briefly of
plays, that Mcnander dcvifed them for
the fupprefling of vanities : nccefl'ary in
a Commonwealth, as long as they are
ufed in their right kind ; the play-
makers worthy of honour for their art,
and players, men deferving both praifc
and profit as long as they wax neither
covetous nor infolent. (* Never too Late '
[1590], viii., pp. 131-133-)
r
ENGLISH PLATER.
Roberto [ = Robert Greene] wonder-
ing to hear fuch good words, for that
this golden age affords few that efteem
of virtue ; returned him thankful gratu-
lations, and (urged by neceflity) uttered
his prefentfgrief, befeeching his advice
how he might be employed. Why,
eafily, quoth he, and greatly to your
benefit ; for men of my profeffion get
by fcholars their whole living. What
is your profeflion? faid Roberto. Truly,
fir, faid he, I am a Player. A player,
quoth Roberto, I took you rather for a
gentleman of great living, for if by out-
ward habit men fliould be cenfured
Green Pastures.
[ = judged], I tell you, you would be
taken for a fubftantial man. So am I
where I dwell (quoth the Player), re-
puted able at my proper coft to build a
windmill. What though the world once
went hard with me, when I was fain
to carry my playing fardlc [ = bundle]
a-footback. Temper a mutantur, I know
you know the meaning of it better than
I, but I thus conflrue it. It is other-
wife now ; for my very fliare in playing
apparcll will not be fold for two hundred
pounds. Truly, faid Roberto, it is
llrange, that you fhould fo profper in
that vain pradice, for that it fecms to
me your voice is nothing gracious.
Nay, then, faid the Player, I miflike
your judgment : why, I am as famous
for Dclphrigus and the king of Fairies
as ever was any of my time. The
twelve labours of Hercules have I
terribly thundered on the ftage and
placed three fcenes of the devil on the
highway to heaven. Have ye fo ? (faid
Roberto), then I pray you pardon
me. Nay, more (quoth the Player), I
can ferve to make a pretty fpeech, for l
was a country Author, paiting at a moral,
for it was I that penned the moral of
Good Advices,
man's wit, the Dialogue of Dives, and
for fcven years' fpace was abfolutc
interpreter of the puppets. But now
my almanac is out of date.
The people make no estimation
Of Morals teaching education.
Was not this pretty for a plain rhyme
extempore ? If ye will ye fhall have
more. (' Groat's-worth of Wit' [1592],
xii., pp. 130-132.)
GOOD JDFICES.
The Farewell of a Friend.
1. Let God's worfhip be thy morn-
ing's work, and His wifdom the direftion
of thy day's labour.
2. Rife not without thanks, nor^fleep
not without repentance.
3. Choofe but a few friends, and try
thofe ; for the flatterer fpeaks faireft.
4. If thy wife be wife, make her thy
fecretary, elfe lock thy thoughts in thy
heart, for women are feldom filcnt.
5. If (he be fair, be not jealous ; for
fufpicion cures not women's follies.
lo Green Pastures,
6. U flic be wife wrong her not : for
if thou loveft others flic will loath thee.
7. Let thy children's nurture be their
richcft portion ; for wifdom is more
precious than wealth.
8. Be not proud amongft thy poor
neighbours : for a poor man's hate is
perilous.
9. Nor too familiar with great men ;
for prcfumption wins difdain.
10. Neither be too prodigal in thy
fare, nor die not indebted to thy belly,
but enough is a fcafl:.
11. Be not envious, lefl: thou fall in
thine own thoughts.
12. Ufe patience, mirth and quiet;
for care is enemy to health.
('Never too Late' [1590], viii.,
pp. 168, 169.)
TO rOUNG MEN.
A young man led on by felf-will
(having the reins of liberty in his own
hand) forfeeth not the ruth of folly, but
aimcth at prcfcnt pleafurcs : for he gives
himfclf up to delight, and thinketh
everything good, honeft, lawful, and
'To Young Men.
virtuous, that fitteth for the content of
his lafcivious humour. He forfceth
not that fuch as climb haftily fall fud-
denly ; that bees have ftings as well as
honey ; that vices have ill ends as well
as fweet beginnings. And whereof
grows this hecdlefs life, but of felf-
conceit, thinking the good counfel of
age is dotage ; that the advice of friends
proceeds of envy, and not of love ; that
when their fathers correal them for
their faults, they hate them : whereas
when the black ox hath trod on their
feet and the crow's foot is feen in their
eyes, then, touched with the feeling of
their own folly, they figh out, * Had I
will !' when repentance cometh too late.
Or like as wax is ready to receive every
new form that is ftamped into it, fo is
youth apt to admit of every vice that is
objefled unto it, and in young years
wanton defires is chiefly predominate,
efpecially the two ringleaders of all
other mifchiefs, namely, pride and
whoredom. Thefe are the Syrens that
with their enchanting melodies draw
hem on to utter confufion. . . . [There-
ore bethink. . . .] (* Repentance '
1592], xii., pp. 157, 158.)
Green Pastures.
UNrENERJBLE OLD AGE.
Thcfc two patterns of unrightcouf-
ncfs and mirrors of mifchicf, had under
the pens of a dove covered the heart oi
a kite, under their fheeps' (kins hidden
the bloody nature of a wolf; thinking
under the fliadow of their grey hairs to
cover the fubftance of their treacherous
minds ; in a painted fheath to hide a
rufty blade ; in a filver bell a leaden
clapper, and in their aged complexion
moll youthful concupifcence, hoping
their hoary hairs would keep them
without blame and their grey heads
without fufpicion. Indeed, age is a
crown of glory when it is adorned with
righteoufnefs, but the dregs of diflionour
when it is mingled with mifchief. For
honourable age confifteth not in the
term of years, nor is not meafured by
the date of a man's days, but godly
wifdom is the grey hair and an un-
dcfiled life is old age. The herb
Grace, the older it is the ranker fmell
it hath, the Sea-ftar is moil: black being
old, the older the eagle is the more
crooked is her bill, and the more age
apophthegms and Apt Sayings.
in wicked men the more unrighteous.
('Mirror of Modeily' [1584], iii., pp.
.1. IZ.)
APOPHTHEGMS AND AP'i
SAYINGS.
It is vain to water the plant when
the root is dead. (' Morando,' iii., p.
54-)
I count liking without law no love
but luft. {Ibid., p. 59.)
It is hard ... to hide Vulcan's polt
foot with pulling on a ftraight flioc.
{Ibid., p. 60.)
He who yieldcth himfelf as a flave to
love bindeth himfelf in fetters of gold,
and if his fuit have good fuccefs, yet he
leadeth his life in gliftering mifery.
{Ibid., p. 86.)
A word miftaken is half a challenge.
{Ibid., p. 127.)
When the boar layeth down his
briftles then he meaneth to Ilrike.
('Anatomy of Fortune,' iii., p. 183.)
The Painter cafteth his fairell colour
over the fouleft board. {Ibid.)
Fortune, yea, fortune, in favouring
14 Green Pastures.
mc hath made mc moft infortunate.
{Ibid., p. 184.)
The lapwing [ = peewit] cries fartheft
off from her neft. (* Tritameron,' iii.,
p. 78.) [Cf. ' Meafurc for Meafure/
I., iv., 32 ; * Comedy of Errors/ IV., ii.,
27.-G.]
[Follow] the example of the in-
duilrious and painful [ = painftaking]
bee, which draweth honey out of flowers
and hurteth not the fruit. {Ibid.,^. I 53-)
[So George Herbert finely :
' Rain, do not hurt my flowers, but gently
spend
Your honey-drops ; press not to smell them,
bee.'— G.]
Rather love by ear than like by the
eye. (' Mirror,' iii., p. 10.)
A fure truth . . . needs no fubtle
glofs. {Ibid., p. 60.)
['Tis] to pull on Hercules' hofe on a
child's foot. {Ibid., p. 68.)
*Tis an ill flaw [ = ftorm-wind] that
bringeth up no wreck . . . and a bad
wind that breedeth no man's profit.
{Ibid.,^p. 84.)
I think of lovers as Diogenes did of
dancers, who, being afked how he liked
Apophthegms and Apt Sayings.
them, anfwered, The better the worfe.
{Uid., p. 88.) [So Dr. Johnfon of an
intricate and difficult mufical compofi-
tion, *I wifh it had been fo difficult as
to be impoffible.' — G.]
Finding, with Scipio, that he was
never lefs alone than when he was
alone. {Hid., p. 114.) [Made im-
mortal by Ckilde Harold. — G.]
Wilt thou Ihrink for an April fhower ?
[Ibid., p. 214.)
That which is eafily begun is not
always lightly ended. (' Debate,' iv.,
p. 198.)
Stars are to be looked at with the
eye, not reached at with the hand.
('Doraftus,' iv., p. 285.)
My white hairs are bloflbms for the
grave. {Ibid., p. 271.) [Percy, in his
*Reliques' (ii., 1 77, ed. 181 2), quotes
the following as part of an old fong on
the ftory of the Beggar of Bethnal
Green :
' The reverend lockes in comelye curies did
wave,
And on his aged temples grewe the blossoms
of the grave.'
Qy. the * old faying ' by Greene } — G.]
c 2
1 6 Green Pastures.
The four bud will never be the fwcet
bloflbm. (* Card,' iv., p. 15.)
She that is won with a word will be
loll with a wind. (/^/V., p. 56.)
Make a virtue of ncccflity. {Ibid.j
P- ^°-) . . . , .
Too much familiarity breeds con-
tempt, i^lhid., p. 102.)
I dare not infer comparifons becaufe
they be odious. {Ibid., p. 149.)
Adultery fhall fly in the air, and thy
known virtues (hall lie hid in the earth.
(' Doraftus,' iv., p. 250.) [Ennobled by
Shakcfpcare into :
' The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones.'
('Julius Ccei^ar,' II., x., 2.) — G.]
They went like fhadows, not men.
{Ibid.^ p. 262.)
Falls come not by fitting low, but by
climbing too high. {Ihid., p. 285.)
A woman's fault, to fpurn at that with
her foot which flie greedily catcheth at
with her hand. (Ibid., p. 285.)
Ncccflity hath no law. {Ibid., p.
294O
Like the porcupine, who, coveting
to ftrike others with her pens, leaveth
Apophthegms and Apt Sayings. 1 7
herfelf void of any defence. (' Plancto-
machia,' v., p. 97.) [Even Shakcfpcare
believed in the * pen-propelling porcu-
pine/ e.g., 'Henry VI.,' III., i., 363 ;
' Troilus,' II., i., 27.— G.]
Is thy fancy fo fickle as every face
muft be viewed with affeftion } Fond
man, think this, that the poor man
makcth as great account of his wife as
the grcateft monarch in the world doth
of an emprefs ; that honefty harbours as
foon in a cottage as in the Court.
(* Penelope's Web,' v., p. 205.)
For all the crack my penny may be
good filver. {I hid., p. 233.)
Fair promifes and fmall performance.
(' Planetomachia,' v., p. 43.)
More foon come than welcome.
{Uid., p. 77.)
Cats' half-waking winks are but trains
[ = fnares] to entrap the moufe. (^Ibid.,
p. 8+.)
Better to trufl: an open enemy than a
reconciled friend. (Ibid., p. 90.)
The longeft fummer's day hath his
evening. [Ibid., p. 129.)
Nothing is evil that is neccflary.
('Penelope's Web,' v., p. 178.) [ = all
that is is right. — G.]
1 8 Green Pastures,
My profcflion is your trade. (' Mena-
phon,' vi., p. 120.)
How happy arc wc that cat to live
and live not to cat. (* Perimcdcs,' vii.,
p. 21.)
The fox had his fkin pulled over his
cars for prying into the lion's den : poor
men fliould look no higher than their
feet, lell in ftaring at liars they Humble.
{^Ibid.y p. 2 2.)
Venus, I grant, hath a wrinkle in her
brow, but two dimples in her cheeks.
i^Uid., p. 69.)
Words have wings, and once let flip
can never be recalled. (' Royal Ex-
change,' vii., p. 232.)
Poorly content is better than richly
covetous. (* Perimedes,' vii., p. 60.)
A woman, and therefore to be won.
{Ibid., p. 68.)
Love beginncth in gold and endeth
in beggary. (' Never too Late,' viii.,
p. 36.)
Such as marry but to a fair face tie
thcmfclves oft to a foul bargain. {Ibid.)
Faircft blolToms are foonefl nipped
with froft. {Ibid., p. 71.)
A friend to [whom] to reveal is a
medicine to relieve. {Ibid., p. 85.)
Apophthegms and Apt Sayings.
A woman's heart and her tongue arc
not relatives. {Ibid.^ p. 90.)
She found that all his corn was on
the floor. {Ibid., p. 102.)
To bed with the bee and up with the
lark. {Ibid.^ p. 124.)
The crow thinks her fowls the faircfl:.
(Ibid., p. 186.) [A play on 'foul.']
In many words lieth miftruft, and in
painted fpeech deceit is often covered.
(* Metamorphofis,' ix., 73.)
May not a woman look but Ihe muft
love.? {Ibid., p. 83.)
Making a woman's refiftance. {Ibid.^
p. 104.)
Truft not him that fmiles. (' Mourn-
ing Garment ' [i 590], ix., p. 138. [C/.
* Hamlet,' i., 5 : ' Smile, and fmile, and
be a villain.' — G.]
Hunger needs no fauce and thirft
turns water into wine. {Ibid., p. 145.)
Ah, father, had I reverenced my God
as I honoured mv goddefs ! {Ibid., p.
207.)— G. [Cf. 'Henry VTH.,' iii., 2.]
Parrots fpeak not what they think.
(* Farewell,' p. 246.)
Bring not contempt to fuch a royal
dignity by too much familiarity. {Ibid.,
p. 258.)
20 Green Pastures.
The ploughman hath more cafe than
a king. {Ibid., p. 277.)
Wc have as much health with feeding
on the brown loaf as a prince hath with
all his delicates, and I fteal more fweet
naps in the chimney corner in a week
than God fave his majefty ! {Ibid.)
You may fmell their pride by their
perfumes. {Ibid.y p. 285.)
Love filleth not the hand with pelf,
but the eye with pleafure. {Ibid., p. 300.)
It is not riches to have much, but to
defire little. {Ibid., p. 309.)
Drink me as dry as a fieve. ('Life and
Death of Ned Browne,' xi., p. 30.)
Envy creepeth not fo low as cottages.
('Philomela,' xi., p. 176.)
Acquaint not thyfelf with many, left
thou fall into the hands of flatterers.
{Ibid.)
Courteous to all, but converfe with
few. {Ibid.)
Truth is the daughter of Time.
{Ibid., p. 189.)
Time hatcheth truth. {Ibid., p. 197.)
The tailor fews with hot needle and
burnt thread. {Ibid., p. 238.)
Will is above Ikill. (' Orpharion,' xii.,
p. 5-)
Apophthegms and Apt Sayings.
Pierced by Achilles' lance muft be
healed by his fpcar. {IbiJ.^ p. 9.)
Buy fmoke with many perils and
dangers. {Ibid., p. 10.)
Reap many kifTes and little love.
{Ibid., ^.17.)
Ay, quench fire with flax. {Ibid.,
p. 39-)
He never played in jefl. {Iltd., p.
58.)
King's words may not offend. {Ibid.,
p. 72.)
Like the pace of a crab, backward.
{Ibid., p. 75.)
We are only overcome, not vanquiflied.
{Ibid., p. 88.)
Once get into the bone, it will ftep
into the flefh. {' Repentance,' xii., p.
I59-)
Blamed, but never afhamed. (' Vifion,'
xii., p. 248.)
Afk counfel of your pillow. {Ibid,,
p. 265.)
The biggefl limbs have not the ftouteft
hearts (1. 1091).
Empty veffels have the loudeft founds,
And cowards prattle more than men of
worth (11. 1 1 01, 1 102).
('The Pinner of Wakefield ' [1599].)
22 Green Pastures,
O, Sir, I love the fruit that tr eafon brings,
But thofc that arc the traitors, them I
hate.
(* Sclinus,' 11. 1259, 1260.)
' White-wing'd vidory fits on our fwords '
(1. 1585).
* Call to compafs it
Without delay, or long procraftination ;
It argucth an unmatured wit
When all is ready for fo flrong invafion
To draw out time ; an unlook'd-for
mutation
May foon prevent us if we do delay :
Quick fpeed is good, where wifdom
leads the way.
{Ibid., 11. 307-313-)
But friends arc men, and love can baffle
lords :
The carl both woos and courts her for
himfelf.
(* Friar Bacon,' 11. 639, 640).
Pity me, though I be a farmer's fon.
And meafure not my riches, but my love.
{Uid., 11. 764, 765.)
Love's foolifh looks
Think footftcps miles and minutes to be
hours.
{UU.,\\, 1 1 55, 1 1 56.)
Apophthegms and Apt Sayings,
Old folk are twice children. (' Mam-
illia,' ii., p. 50.) [Robert Fcrguflbn,
precurfor of Robert Burns, fclicitoufly
puts it in his ' Farmer's Ingle * — proto-
type of the ' Cottar's Saturday Night':
' The mind's aye cradled when the grave is
near.'— G.]
They feek others where they have
been hid themfelves. {Ibid., p. 16.)
He that cannot diiTemble cannot live.
(IHd., p. 19.)
A young faint, an old devil. {Ibia.,
p. 25.) [A long-lived lie, flander and
fneer combined. — G.]
One forecaft is worth two after.
{Ibid., p. 26.)
Killed her with kindnefs. {Ibid.)
Two might beft keep counfel where
one was away. {Ibid., p. 30.)
It is a foul bird that defiles its own
neft. {Ibid., p. 31.) [But it is only
its own neft that it can well defile. — G.J
The beft clerks are not ever the wifeft
men. {Ibid., p. 34.)
The fox will eat no grapes. {Ibid.,
p. 52.)
Love makes all men orators. {Ibid.,
p. 57.)
24
Green Pastures.
One talc is always good until another
is told. {Ibid., p. 222.)
Pull hair from a bald man's head.
{Uid., p. 225.)
ALLITERATION,
Reject not him To rigoroufly which
refpedeth you fo reverently ; loath him
not fo hatefully which loveth you fo
heartily, nor repay not his dutiful amity
with fuch deadly enmity. ('Card of
Fancy' [1587]* iv., p. 113.)
To hope ftill, I fee is but to heap
woe upon wretchedness, and care upon
calamity. Yet, madam, thus much I
will fay, that Dido, Queen of Carthage,
loved ^neas, a banifhed exile and a
ftraggling flranger. Euphinia, daughter
to the King of Corinth, and heir-
apparent to his crown, who for her
feature [ = perfon] was famous through-
out all the Eaft countries, vouchfafed to
apply a fovereign plafter to the furious
paflions of Acharillo, her father's bond-
man. The Duchefs of Malfy chofe for
her hufband her fcrvant Ulrico ; and
Alliteration,
Venus, who for furpafiing beauty was
canonized for a goddcfs, difdaincd not
the love of limping Vulcan. They,
madam, refpeftcd the men, and not their
money ; their wills, and not their wealth ;
their love, not their livings ; their con-
ftancy, not their coin ; their perfon, not
their parentage ; and the inward virtue,
not the outward value. But you arc fo
addicted to the opinion of Danae, that
unlcfs Jupiter himfelf be flirouded in
your lap, under the fliape of a fliower
of gold, he fliall have the rcpulfe for all
his deity. (/^/V., p. 1 19.)
A NOBLE HEAD— FRIAR
BACON.
Vajidennaft. Lordly thou lookeft, as if
that thou wert learn'd ;
Thy countenance, as if fcience held
her feat
Between the circled arches of thy
brows.
('Friar Bacon,' vol. xiii.,11. 1297-99.)
26 Green Pastures.
FRIJR BACON.
Seeing you come as friends unto the friar,
Refolvc you dodors, Bacon can by books
Make ftorming Boreas thunder from his
cave,
And dim fair Luna to a dark eclipfe.
The great arch-ruler, potentate of Hell,
Trembles, when Bacon bids him, or his
fiends.
Bow to the force of his pentageron.
What Art can work, the frolic friar
knows ;
And therefore will I turn my magic
books,
And ftrain out necromancy to the deep :
I have contriv'd and fram'd a head of
brafs
(I made Belcephon hammer out the
fluff).
And that by Art fnrill read philofophy,
And I will fbengthen England by my
fkill.
That if ten Caesars lived and reign'd in
Rome,
With all the legions Europe doth contain,
They fhould not touch a grafs of Englifh
ground :
Beauty — A Song.
The work that Ninus rcar'd at Babylon,
The brazen walls fram'd by Semiramis,
Carv'd out like to the portal of the fun ;
Shall not be fuch as rings the Englifh
ftrand,
From Dover to the- market-place of Rye.
('Friar Bacon,' xiii., pp. i6, 17.)
r
BEAVTT—A SONG.
Beauty, alas ! where waft thou born,
Thus to hold thyfelf in fcorn ?
When as Beauty kilT'd to woo thee.
Thou by Beauty doft undo me,
Heigho, defpife me not.
I and thou, in footh are one,
Faireft thou, ay fairer none ;
Wanton thou, and wilt thou wanton,
Yield a cruel heart to pant on ?
Do me right, and do me reafon,
Cruelty is curfed treafon :
Heigho, I love ; heigho, I love !
Heigho ; and yet he eyes me not.
(* A Looking-glafs for London and Eng-
land' [1594], xiv., 74, 75.)
28 Green Pastures.
BOHEMIA—SHAKESPEARE
ILLUSTRATION.
It fo happened that Egifuis, King of
Sicily, who in his youth had been brought
up with Pandofto, defirous to fhow that
neither traft of time, nor diftance of
place, could diminifh their former friend-
fhip, provided a navy of fhips zwdi failed
into Bohemia to vifit his old friend and
companion . . . (* Hiftory of Doraftus
and Fawnia' [i 588], iv., p. 235). [Every-
one knows Shakefpeare's kindred flip in
'Winter's Tale' ; but this 19th century
could (how juft as great geographical
blunders, e.g.^ about Africa and India,
etc., etc. Cf. alfo note in Works, vol.
v., pp. 304, 305, as bearing on Shake-
fpeare's alleged ' fmall Latin and lefs
Greek.'— G.]
CHASTITY— AN ODE.
What is love once difgraced ?
But a wanton thought ill placed,
Which doth blemifli whom it paineth.
And difhonours whom it deigneth.
Chastity — An Ode,
Seen in higher powers moll:.
Though fome fools do fondly boail
That whofo is high of kin
Sandlifies his lover's fin.
Jove could not hide lo's fcape,
Nor^conceal Caliilo's rape.
Both did fault, and both were famed,
Light of loves whom lull: had fliamcd.
Let not women trull to men,
They can flatter now and then.
And tell them many wanton tales,
Which do breed their after bales.
Sin in kings is fin we fee,
And greater fin, 'caufe great of 'gree.
Majus peccatum, this I read.
If he be high that doth the deed.
Mars for all his deity
Could not Venus dignify.
But Vulcan trapp'd her, and her blame,
Was punifhed with an open fliame.
All the gods laugh'd them to fcorn.
For dubbing Vulcan with the horn.
Whereon may a woman boaft.
If her chaftity be loll: ?
Shame awaiteth upon her face,
Blulhing cheeks and foul difgrace :
Report will blab, this is fhe
That with her lufts wins infamy.
If lulling love be fo difgrac'd,
30
Green Pastures.
Die before you live unchaftc.
For better die with honcft fame,
Than load a wanton life with fliame !
('Philomela' [1592], xi., pp. 178, 179.)
r
COMEDr.*
Enter the Clown and his crezv of Ruffians,
to go to drink.
Firji Ruffian. Come on, Smith, thou
(halt be one of the crew, becaufe thou
knowcft where the beft ale in the town is.
Adam [the blackfmith's man]. Come
on, in faith, my colts : I have left my
Mafter ftriking of a heat, and ftole away,
becaufe I would keep you company.
Clown. Why, what, fhall we have this
paltry Smith with us ?
Adam. Paltry Smith? Why, you in-
carnative knave, what are you that you
fpeak petty trcafon againft the fmith's
trade ?
Clozvn. Why, flave, I am a gentleman
of Niniveh 1
* These are examples of Green's remarkable
comic vein. — G.
Adam. A gentleman ? Good Sir, I
remember you well, and all your pro-
genitors : your father bare office in our
town ; an honeft man he was, and in
great difcredit in the parifli, for they
bellowed two fquire's livings on him ;
the one was on working-days, and then
he kept the town ftage, and on holidays
they made him the Sexton's man, for he
whipped dogs out of the church. Alas,
Sir, your father, — why, Sir, methinks I
fee the gentleman ftill : a proper youth
he was, faith, aged fome forty and ten ;
his beard rat's colour, half black, half
white ; his nofe was in the highefl de-
gree of nofes, it was nofe autcm glorificam,
fo fet with rubies that after his death it
fhould have been nailed up in Copper-
fmith's Hall for a monument : well. Sir,
I was beholding to your good father,
for he was the firil man that ever in-
ftrudled me in the myftery of a pot of
ale.
Second Ruffian. Well faid. Smith ; that
croiTed him over the thumbs.
Clown. Villain, were it not that we
go to be merry, my rapier fhould pre-
sently quit thy opprobrious terms.
Adam. O, Peter, Peter, put up thy
32 Green Pastures,
fword, I prithee heartily, into thy fcab-
bard, hold in your rapier ; for though I
have not a long rcachcr, I have a fhort
hitter. — Nay then, gentlemen, llay me,
for my choler begins to rife again 11 him ;
for mark the words, *a paltry fmith.'
Oh, horrible fentencc : thou haft in thefe
words, I will rtand to it, libelled againft
all the found horfes, whole horfes, fore
horfes, courfers, curtails, jades, cuts,
hackneys, and mares ; whereupon, my
friend, in their defence, I give thee this
curfe, — thou fhalt not be worth a horfe
of thine own this feven year.
Clown. Ay, prithee fmith, is your
occupation fo excellent ?
Adam. *A paltry fmith'? Why, I'll
ftand to it, a fmith is lord of the four
elements ; for our iron is made of the
earth, our bellows blow out air, our floor
holds fire, and our forge water. Nay,
Sir, we read in the Chronicles that there
was a god of our occupation.
Clown. Ay, but he was a cuckold.
Adam. That was the reafon. Sir, he
called your father coufin. * Paltry
fmith'? why, in this one word thou hall
defaced their worfliipful occupation.
Clown. As how ?
Comedy, 3 3
Adam, Marry, Sir, I will ftand to it,
that a fmith in his kind is a phyfician,
a furgcon, and a barber. For let a
horfe take a cold, or be troubled with
the botts, and we ftraight give him a
potion or a purgation, in fuch phyfical
manner that he mends ftraight : if he
have outward difeafes, as the fpavin,
fplent, ring-bone, wind-gall, or farcin,,
or, Sir, a galled back, w^e let him blood
and clap a plafter to him with a pefti-
Icnce, that mends him with a very-
vengeance : now, if his mane grow out
of order, and he have any rebellious
hairs, we ftraight to our fhears and trim
him with what cut it pleafe us, pick his
ears, and make him neat. Marry, in-
deed. Sir, we are flovens for one thing ;
we never ufe any mufk-balls to wafh
him with, and the reafon. Sir, bccaufe
he can woe"^ without kifting.
Clown. Well, firrha, leave off thefe
praifes of a fmith, and bring us to the
beft ale in the town.
Adam. Now, Sir, I have a feat above
all the fmiths in Niniveh ; for. Sir, I
am a philofopher that can difpute of the
nature of ale ; for mark you. Sir, a pot
* =play on * woo.'— G.
34 Green Fastures.
of ale confifts of four parts, — Imprimis
the ale, the toaft, the ginger, and the
nutmeg.
Clown. Excellent.
Adam. The ale is a rcftorative, bread
is a binder ; mark you. Sir, two excel-
lent points in phyfic : the ginger, oh,
'ware of that : the philofophers have
written of the nature of ginger, 'tis ex-
pulfitive in two degrees : you fhall hear
the fentence of Galen :
• // will make a man belch, cottgh, and — ,
And is a great comfort to the heart ':
a proper pofic, I promife you : but now
to the noble virtue of nutmeg : it is,
saith one ballad, (I think an Englifh
Roman was the author,) an underlayer
to the brains, for when the ale gives a
buffet to the head, oh, the nutmeg that
keeps him for a while in temper. Thus
you fee the defcription of the virtue of
a pot of ale. Now, Sir, to put my
phyfical precepts in praftice, follow me :
but afore I ftcp any further
Clown. What's the matter now t
Adam. Why, feeing I have provided
the ale, who is the purveyor for the
wenches ? for, mailers, take this of me,
Comedy,
a cup of ale without a vvcnch, why,
alas ! 'tis like an egg without fait, or a
red herring without muftard !
Clown. Lead us to the ale : we'll have
wenches enough, I warrant thee.
\Exeunt,
(* A Looking-glafs for London and Eng-
land' [1594], xiv., 15-20.)
r
An Onward Scene.
Enters Adam^ the Clown.
Adam. This way he is, and here will
I fpeak with him.
Lord. Fellow, whither prefleth thou ?
Adam. I prefs nobody, Sir ; I am
going to fpeak with a friend of mine.
Lord. Why, flave, there is none but
the king and his viceroys.
Adam. The king ? Marry, Sir, he is
the man I would fpeak withal.
Lord. Why, calleft him a friend of
thine ?
Adam. Ay, marry do I, Sir ; for if he
be not my friend, I'll make him my
friend ere he and I pafs.
2^ Green Pastures.
Lord. Away, vafTal, begone, thou
fpcak unto the king !
Adam. Ay, marry, will I, Sir ; and if he
were a king of velvet, I will talk to him.
Rafni (the king). What's the matter
there ? what noife is that ?
Adatn. A boon, my licgc ! a boon, my
liege !
Rafni. What is it that great Rafni will
not grant.
This day, unto the mcancft of his land,
In honour of his beauteous Alvida ?
Come hither, fwain ; what is it that thou
cravcrt ?
Adam. Faith, Sir, nothing but to fpeak
a few fentences to your worfhip.
Rafni. Say, what is it ?
Adam. I am fure, Sir, you have heard
of the fpirits that walk in the city here.
Rafni. Ay, what of that ?
Adam. Truly, Sir, I have an oration
to tell you of one of them ; and this it is.
Alvida (queen). Why goell not for-
ward with thy tale ?
Adam. Faith, miftrefs, I feel an ira-
perfedion in my voice, a difeafc that
often troubles me ; but, alas ! eafily
mended ; a cup of ale or a cup of wine
will ferve the turn.
Aivida. Fill him a bowl, and let him
want no drink.
Adam. Oh, what a precious word was
that, *And let him want no drink.'
[Drink given to Adam.'] Well, Sir, now
I'll tell you forth my tale : Sir, as I
was coming alongft the port-royal of
Niniveh, there appeared to me a great
devil, and as hard-favoured a devil as
ever I faw ; nay, Sir, he was a cuckoldy
devil, for he had horns on his head.
This devil, mark you now, prelleth
upon me, and. Sir, indeed, I charged
him with my pikeftafF; but when that
would not ferve, I came upon him with
Spiritus fandus^ — why, it had been able
to have put Lucifer out of his wits :
when I faw my charm would not ferve,
I was in fuch a perplexity that six
pennyworth of juniper would not have
made the place fweet again.
Aivida, Why, fellow, wert thou fo
afraid ?
Adam. Oh, millrefs, had you been
there and fcen, his very fight had made
you fhift a clean fmock, I promife you;
though I were a man, and counted a
tall fellow, yet my laundrcfs called me
flovenly knave the next day.
38 Green Pastures.
Rafni. A plcafant flavc. — Forward,
Sir, on with thy talc.
Adam. Faith, Sir, but I remember a
word that my miftrefs, your bed-fellow,
fpokc.
Raj'ni. What was that, fellow ?
Adam. Oh, Sir, a word of comfort, a
precious word — *And let him want no
drink.'
Rajni. Her word is law ; and thou
fhalt want no drink.
\Prink given to Adam.
Adam. Then, Sir, this devil came
upon me, and would not be perfuaded,
but he would needs carry me to hell.
I proffered him a cup of ale, thinking,
becaufe he came out of fo hot a place,
that he was thirfty ; but the devil was
not dry, and therefore the more forry
was I. Well, there was no remedy, but
I muft with him to hell : and at lad I
cart mine eye afide ; if you knew what
I fpied you would laugh, Sir. I looked
from top to toe, and he had no cloven
feet. Then I ruffled up my hair, and
fet my cap on the one fide ; and. Sir,
grew to be a Juftice of Peace to the
devil. At laft, in a great fume, as I am
very choleric, and fometime fo hot in
Comedy.
my fuftian fumes, that no man can abide
within twenty yards of me, I ftart up,
and fo bombaftcd the devil that, Sir, he
cried out and ran away.
Ali'ida. This plcafant knave hath
made me laugh my fill :
Rafni, now Alvida begins her quafF,
And drinks a full caroufe unto her king.
Rafni. Ay, pledge, my love, as hearty
as great Jove
Drunk when his Juno heav'd a bowl to
him. —
Frolic, my lords, let all the ftandards
walk ;
Ply it till every man hath ta'en his load. —
How now, firrha, what cheer? we have
no words of you.
Adam. Truly, Sir, I was in a brown
ftudy about my miftrcfs.
Alvida, About me ? for what ?
Adam. Truly, miftrefs, to think what
a golden fentence you did fpeak : all
the philofophers in the world could not
have faid more ; — * What, come, let him
want no drink.' Oh, wife fpeech !
Alvida. Villains, why flcink you not
unto this fellow ?
He makes me blyth and merry in my
thoughts :
40
Green Pastures.
Heard you not that the king hath given
command.
That all be drunk this day within his
Court,
In quaffing to the health of Alvida ?
[ Drink given to Adam.
{Ibid., pp. 90-94.)
Final Scene.
Enters J dam Joins, with a bottle of beer
in one fop [ = loofe troufers] and a
great piece of beef in another.
Adam. Well, goodman Jonah, I would
you had never come from Jewry to this
country ; you have made me look like a
lean rib of roaft beef, or like the pidurc
of Lent painted upon a red herring's
cob. Alas, mafters, we are commanded
by the proclamation to faft and pray :
by my troth, I could prettily fo, fo away
with praying ; but for fafting, why 'tis
focontrary to my nature, that I liad rather
fufTcr a fhort hanging than a long
falling. Mark me, the words be thcfe,
* Thou flialt take no manner of food for
fo many days.' I had as licve he fhould
have faid, * Thou (halt hang thyfelf for
fo many days.' And yet, in faith, I
Comedy,
need not find fault with the proclama-
tion, for I have a buttery and a pantry,
and a kitchen about me ; for proof Ecce
Jignum ! This right flop is my pantry ;
behold a manchct [Drazvs it out] ; this
place is my kitchen, for lo ! a piece of
beef [Draws it out], — Oh, let me repeat
that fweet word again : for lo ! a piece
of beef! This is my buttery, for fee,
fee, my friends, to my great joy, a bottle
of beer [Draws it out]. Thus, alas ! I
make fliift to wear out this farting ; I
drive away the time. But there go
fearchers about to feek if any man
breaks the king's commands. Oh, here
they be ; in with your vadluals, Adam.
[Puts them hack into his Jl ops.
Enter tzvo Searchers.
Firji Searcher. How duly the men of
Niniveh keep the proclamation ; how
are they armed to repentance ! We
have fearched through the whole city,
and have not as yet found one that
breaks the fall.
Second Searcher. The fign of the more
grace: — but flay, here fits one, methinks,
at his prayers ; let us fee who it is.
Gree?i Pastures.
Firjl Searcher. 'Tis Adam, the fmith's
man. — How now, Adam ?
Adam. Trouble me not ; * Thou fhalt
take no manner of food, but fail and
pray.*
Firjl Searcher. How devoutly he fits
at his orifons ; but Hay, methinks, I feel a
fmcll of fome meat or bread about him.
Second Searcher. So thinks me too. —
You, firrha, what vidluals have you
about you ?
Adam. Viduals ! O horrible blaf-
phcmy ! Hinder me not of my prayer,
nor drive me not into a choler. Viduals !
why heardcft: thou not the fcntence,
* Thou flialt take no food, but fall and
pray' ?
Second Searcher. Truth, fo it fhould
be ; but, methinks, I fmell meat about
thee.
Adam. About me, my friends ? Thefe
words are actions in the cafe. About
mc ? No, no ; hang thofe gluttons that
cannot fall and pray.
Firji Searcher. Well, for all your
words, wc mull fcarch you.
Adam. Search me ! Take heed what
you do ; my hofe arc my caftles ; 'tis
burglary if you break ope a flop : no
Comedy,
officer muft lift up an iron hatch ; take
heed, my flops are iron.
{They fear ch Adam.
Second Searcher. Oh, villain, fee how
he hath gotten viduals, bread, beef, and
beer, where the king commanded upon
pain of death none fliould eat for fo
many days ; no, not the fucking in-
fant.
Adam. Alas, fir, this is nothing but a
modicum non nocet ut tnedicus daret ; why,
Sir, a bit to comfort my ftomach.
Firji Searcher. Villain, thou ftialt be
hanged for it.
Adam. Thefe are your words, ' I fliall
be hanged for it ;' but firft anfwer mc
to this queftion, how many days have
wc to fait ftill ?
Second Searcher, Five days.
Adam. Five days : a long time : then
I muft be hanged ?
Firjl Searcher. Ay, marry, Sir, muft
thou.
Adam. I am your man, I am for you,
Sir ; for I had rather be hanged than
bide fo long a faft. What, five days ?
Come, I'll untrufs. Is your halter and
the gallows, the ladder, and all fuch
furniture in readinefs ?
Green Pastures.
Fir J} Searcher. I warrant thee flialt
want none of thcfe.
JJun. But, hear you, muft I be
hanged ?
Firjl Searcher. Ay, marry.
Adam. And for eating of meat. Then,
friends, know yc by thefe prefents, I
will cat up all my meat, and drink, up
all my drink ; for it fhall never be faid
I was hanged with an empty ftomach.
FirJ} Searcher. Come away, knave ;
wilt thou ftand feeding now?
Adam, If you be fo harty, hang your-
fclf an hour, while I come to you, for
furely I will eat up my meat.
Second Searcher. Come, let's draw him
away perforce.
Adam. You fay there is five days yet
to fart, thcfe are your words.
Second Searcher. Ay, Sir.
Adam. 1 am for you : come, let's
away, and yet let me be put in the
Chronicles. \_Exeunt.
{Ibid., pp. 105-109.)
A Contented Mind. 45
J CONTENTED MIND.
\
: Sweet are the thoughts that favour of
I content ;
The quiet mind is richer than a
! crown ;
Sweet are the nights in carelefs (lumber
fpent ;
The poor eftate fcorns Fortune's
angry frown :
Such fweet content, fuch minds, fuch
deep, fuch blifs,
Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do
mifs.
The homely houfe that harbours quiet
reft;
The cottage that affords no pride nor
care ;
The mean that 'grees with country
mufic beft ;
The fweet comfort of mirth and
modeft* fare ;
:' i
* The original has ' music's fare.' The word
had been caught from the preceding verse.
My venerable friend, W, J. Linton, in his
• Rare Poems,' reads as above, and it is in-
evitably accepted. — G.
46 Green Pastures,
Obfcur^d life fets down a type of blifs,
A mind content both crown and king-
dom is.
(' Farewell to Folly' [1591], ix., pp.
279, 280.)
CONTENT.
Bnrmenijfa^s Seng.
The cottage featcd in the hollow dale,
That Fortune never fears becaufe fo low;
The quiet mind that Want doth fet to
fale,
Sleeps fafe, when prince's feats do over-
throw ;
Want fmiles fecure when princely
thoughts do feel
That Fear and Danger treads upon
their heel.
Blcfs Fortune thou whofe frown hath
wrought thy good ;
Bid farewell to the crown that ends thy
care :
A Country Beauty.
47
The happy fates thy forrows have with-
ftood
By Tygning want and poverty thy fhare ;
For now content (fond Fortune to
defpite)
With patience 'lows* thee quiet and
delight.
('Penelope's Web' [1587], v., p. 180.)
r
A COUNTRY BEAUrr,
Edward [Prince of Wales']. I tell thee,
Lacy, that her fparkling eyes
Do lighten forth fweet Love's alluring
fire :
And in her trefTes fhe doth fold the
looks
Of fuch as gaze upon her golden hair :
Her bafhful white, mixed with the
morning's red,
Luna doth boafl upon her lovely cheeks:
Her front is Beauty's table, where fhe
paints
The glories of her gorgeous excellence :
Her teeth are fhelves of precious mar-
garitcs,
* allows.
48
Green Pastures.
Richly cnclofcd with ruddy coral cliffs.
Tufh, Lacy, fhc is beauty's overmatch
If thou furvcycft her curious imagery.
Lacy [Earl of Lincoln]. I grant, my
lord, the damfel is as fair
As fimplc Suffolk's homely towns can
yield ;
But in the court be quainter dames than
fhe ;
Whofc faces are cnrich'd with honour's
taint,*
Whofe beauties Hand upon the flage of
Fame,
And vaunt their trophies in the courts
of Love.
Edward. Ah, Ned, but hadft thou
watch'd her as myfelf,
And feen the fecret beauties of the
maid,
Their courtly coynefs were but foolery,
Ermjbie. Why, how watch'd you her,
my lord ?
Edward. When as fhe fwcpt like Venus
through the houfe.
And in her fliape fall folded up my
thoughts ;
Into the Milkhoufe went I with the
maid,
• tint.
1
A Country Beauty.
49
And there amongll: the cream-bowls Ihe
did fhine,
> As Pallas 'mongll: her princely huf-
wifcry ;
She turned her fmock over her lily
arms,
And div'd them into milk to run her
cheefe ;
But whiter than the milk her cryftal
ikin,
Check'd with lines of azure, made her
1
blufli,
That Art or Nature durft bring for
1
compare :
Ermfbie, if thou hadft feen, as I did note
it well,
How beauty play'd the hufwife, how
1
this girl
I
Like Lucrece, laid her fingers to the
'
work,
Thou wouldft with Tarquin hazard
'
Rome and all
To win the lovely maid of Frefingfield.
('Friar Bacon' [1594], xiii., pp. 9-1 1.)
1
i
r
so
Green Pastures.
CRADLE SONG.
Weep not, my wanton, fmilc upon my
knee ;
When thou art old there's grief enough
for thee.
Mother's wag, pretty boy,
Father's forrow, father's joy ;
When thy father firft did fee
Such a boy by him and me,
He was glad, I was woe ;
Fortune changed made him fo ;
When he left his pretty boy,
Laft his forrow, firft his joy.
Weep not, my wanton, fmile upon my
knee ;
When thou art old there's grief enough
for thee.
Streaming tears that never ftint.
Like pearl-drops from a flint,
Fell by courfe from his eyes.
That one another's place fupplies;
Thus he grieved in every part,
Tears of blood fell from his heart,
When he left his pretty boy,
Father's forrow, father's joy.
Cradle Song.
Weep not, my wanton, fmilc upon my
knee ;
When thou art old there's grief enough
for thee.
The wanton fmiled, father wept.
Mother cried, baby leapt ;
More he crowed, more we cried,
Nature could not forrow hide :
He muft go, he muft kifs
Child and mother, baby blifs ;*
For he left his pretty boy.
Father's forrow, father's joy.
Weep not, my wanton, fmile upon my
knee ;
When thou art old there's grief enough
for thee.
{' Menaphon ' [i 589], vi., pp. 43, 44.)
CUPID.
Ida. ... I heard a fhepherd fing,
That like a bee, Love hath a little iHng:
He lurks in flowers, he percheth on the
trees ;
He on king's pillows bends his pretty
knees :
* bless.
F 2
I 52 Green Pastures.
The boy is blind, but when he will not
fpy
He hath a leaded foot, and wings to fly:
Bcfhrew me yet, for all thefe flrange
cffeds
If I would like the lad that fo infcds.
('James the Fourth,' xiii., p. 216.)
r
THE EAGLE AND IHE FIT.
When tender ewes, brought home with
evening fun,
Wend to their folds.
And to their holds
The fhepherds trudge when light of day
is done ;
Upon a tree
The Eagle, — Jove's fair bird, — did
perch ;
There refleth he :
A little Fly his harbour* then did fearch.
And did prefume, though others laughed
thereat,
To perch whereas t the princely Eagle
fat.
* arbour or shelter-place. f ivhereon.
'The Eagle and the Fly.
The Eagle frowned, and fliook her royal
wings,
And charged the Fly
From thence to hie :
Afraid, in halle, the little creature flings,
Yet feeks again,
Fearful, to perch him by the Eagle's
fide:
With moody vein,
The fpeedy poft of Ganymede replied :
* VaiTal, avaunt, or with my wings you
die:
Is't fit an Eagle feat him with a Fly ?'
The Fly craved pity ; ftill the Eagle
frown'd :
The filly Fly,
Ready to die,
Difgraced, difplaced, fell grovelling to
the ground :
The Eagle faw.
And wnth a royal mind faid to the Fly,
* Be not in awe,
I fcorn by me the meaneft creature die ;
Then feat thee here.' The joyful Fly
upflings,
And fat fafc-fliadowed with the Eagle's
wings.
(' Menaphon' [1589], vi., pp. 59, 60.)
j4 Green Pastures.
JN EPISTLE DEDICATORr."^
{Complete.)
To the gentlemen readers, Health.
Gentlemen, I dare not flep awry from
my wonted method, firft to appeal to
your favourable courtefies, which ever T
have found (however plaufible) yet
fmothered with a mild filence. The
fmall pamphlets that I have thruft forth
how you have regarded them I know
not, but that they have been badly re-
warded with any ill terms I never
found ; which makes me the more bold
to trouble you, and the more bound to
reft yours every way, as ever I have
done. I keep my old courfe, to palter
up fome thing in profe, ufing mine old
pofy ftill, omne tulit pun5lum ; although
lately two gentlemen poets made two
mad-men of Rome beat it out of their
paper bucklers ; and had it in derifion,
for that I could not make my verfes fet
upon the ftage in tragical bufkins, every
word filling the mouth like the faburden
* Greene's 'Epistles Dedicatory,' like
Breton's and Spenser's, are all graciously and
finely worded. — G.
Ah Epistle Dedicatory.
of Bow-Bell ; daring God out of heaven
with that athcift Tamburlane, or blaf-
phcming with the mad priell of the
fun : but let me rather openly pocket
up the afs at Diogenes' hand, than
wantonly fet out fuch impious inflances
of intolerable poetry. Such mad and
fcoffing poets, that have prophetical
fpirits, as bred of Merlin's race, if there
be any in England, that fet the end of
fcholarifm in an Engllfh blank verfe, I
think either it is the humour of a novice
that tickles them with felf-love, or too
much frequenting the hot-houfe (to ufc
the German proverb) hath fweat out all
the greatefl: part of their wits, which
wafte gradatim, as the Italians fay, poco
a poco. If I fpeak darkly, gentlemen,
and offend with this digreffion, I crave
pardon, in that I but anfwer in print
what they have offered on the rtage.
But leaving thefe fantaftical fcholars, as
judging him that is not able to make
choice of his chaffer but a peddling
chapman, at laft to Perymedes the Black-
fmitk^ who, fitting in his holiday fuit to
enter parley with his wife, fmugged up
in her befl apparel, I prcfent to your
favours. If he pleafc I have my dcfirc.
^6 Green Pastu7'es.
if he but pafs I fhall be glad. If neither,
I vow to make amends in my Orpharion,
which I promife to make you merry
with the next term : And thus refling
on your wonted courtefies, I bid you
farewell. Yours as ever he hath been,
— R. Greene. (' Perimedes the Black-
fmith' [1588], vii., pp. 7-9.)
r
FJNCr.
Lamina's Song.
Fie, fie on blind Fancy !
It hinders youth's joy ;
Fair virgins, learn by me
To count Love a toy.
When Love learned firft the A B C of
delight.
And knew no figures nor conceited
phrafe ;
He fimply gave to due defert her right.
He led not lovers in dark winding ways ;
He plainly willed to love, or flatly
anfwered no :
But now who lifts to prove, fliall find it
nothing fo.
Fancy,
Fie, fie, then, on Fancy !
It hinders youth's joy ;
Fair virgins, learn by me
To count Love a toy.
For fince he learned to ufe the poet's
pen.
He learned likewife with fmoothing
words to feign ;
Witching chafle ears with trothlefs
tongues of men,
And wronged faith with falfehood and
difdain ;
He gives a promife now, anon he
fweareth no :
Who lilleth for to prove, fhall find his
changing (o.
Fie, fie, then, on Fancy !
It hinders youth's joy ;
Fair virgins, learn by me
To count Love a toy.
(' The Groats'-worth of Wit bought
with a Million of Repentance' [i 592],
xii., pp. 113, 114.)
r
58
G7'een Pastures.
OLD ENGLISH FLOWERS.
Ah, Mullidor, her face is like to a
red and white daify growing in a green
meadow, and thou like a bee, that
comcft and fuckeft honey from it, and
carrieft it home to the hive with a heave
and ho : that is as much as to fay, as
with a head full of woes and a heart
full of forrows and maladies. Be of
good cheer, Mirimida laughs on thee,
and thou knoweft a woman's fmile is as
good to a lover as a funfhine day to a
haymaker. She Ihews thee kind looks
and cafts many a fheep's eye at thee ;
which fignifics that fhe counts thee a
man worthy to jump a match with her ;
nay, more, Mullidor, fhe hath given thee
a nofegay of flowers, wherein, as a top
gallant for all the reft, is fet in rofemary
for remembrance. Ah, Mullidor, cheer
thyfclf, fear not. Love, and fortune
favour lufty lads ; cowards are not friends
to affcftion : therefore venture, for thou
haft won her ; elfe fhe had not given
thee this nofegay. (' Never too Late '
[1590], viii., pp. 197, 198.)
Old English Flowers,
Thereby I faw the Batchelors' But-
tons, whofe virtue it is to make wanton
maidens weep when they have worn it
forty weeks under their aprons for a
favour. Next them grew the dif-
fembling daify, to warn fuch light of
love wenches not to truft every fair
promife that fuch amorous bachelors
make them, but [that] fwcet fmells breed
bitter repentance. Hard by grew the
true lover's primrofe, whofe kind favour
wifheth men to be faithful and women
courteous. Alongfl: in a border grew
maidenhair, fit for modcfl maidens to
behold and immodcft to blufh at, becaufe
it praifeth the one for their natural
trefles and condemneth the other for
their beaftly and counterfeit periwigs.
There was the gentle gilliflower, that
wives fhould wear if they were not too
froward ; and loyal lavender : but that
was full of cuckoo-fpits, to fhew that
women's light thoughts make their
hufband's heavy heads. There were
fweet lilies, God's plenty, which fhcwed
fair virgins need not weep for wooers,
and ftore of balm which could cure
ftrange wounds, only not that wound
which women receive. . . . (*A Quip
6o Green Pastures.
for an Upftart Courtier ' [i 592], xi., pp.
218, 219.) [On the daify cf. Ophelia
in 'Hamlet,' IV., vi.— G.]
r
THE ENGLISH FOP JND
FLORENTINE CONTEMPOR-
ARIES.
In truth, quoth Farnezc, I have feen
an Englifh gentleman fo difFufed in his
fuits, his doublet being for the wear of
Caftile, his hofe for Venice, his hat for
France, his cloak for Germany, that he
feemed no way to be an Englishman
but by the face. And, quoth Peratio,
to this are we Florentines almoft grown :
for we muft have our courtelies fo
cringed, our conges delivered with fuch
a long accent, our fpeeches fo afFefted, as
comparing our conditions with the lives
of our anceftors, we feem fo far to differ
from their former eftate, that did Ovid
live, he would make a fecond Metamor-
phofis of our eftate. (' Farewell to
Folly'[i59i], ix., p. 253.)
The English Fop^ etc. 6i
Country Lad Full Drejfed.
She met with a wealthy farmer's fon,
who, handfomely decked up in his
holiday hofe, was going very mannerly
to be foreman in a Morice dance, and
as near as I can guefs was thus ap-
parelled. He was a tall, flender youth,
clean made, with a good, indifferent
face, having on his head a ftraw hat
fleeple-wife, bound about with a band
of blue buckram. He had on his father's
befl: tawny jacket : for that this day's
exploit flood upon his credit. He was
in a pair of hofe of red kerfey, clofe
truffed with a point afore ; his mother
had lent him a new muffler for a napkin,
and that was tied to his girdle for looling.
He had a pair of harveil gloves on his
hands, as ihewing good hufbandry, and
a pen and ink-horn at his back ; for the
young man was a little bookifli. His
pumps [•— fhoes] were a little too heavy,
being trimmed llart-ups made of a pair
of boot legs tied before with two white
leather thongs. Thus handfomely ar-
rayed, for this was his Sunday fuit,
he met the lady Maifia, and feeing her
fo fair and well-formed, far pafling
their country maids in proportion, and
62
Green Pastures.
nothing differing in apparel, he Hood
half amazed, as a man that had fecn a
creature beyond his country conceit.
('Farewell to Folly' [1591], ix., pp.
265, 266.)
r
IDLENESS.
The man coveting, although he were
poor, to be counted virtuous, iirft ef-
chewed idlenefs, the moth that foreft
and fooneil infecteth the mind with
many mifchiefs, and applied himfelf fo
to his works, being a fmith, that he
thought no viftuals to have that tafte
which were not purchafed by his own
fweat. ('Perimedes' [1588],- vii., pp.
II, 12.)
JEJLOUSr,
When gods had framed the fweet of
women's face,
And locked men's looks within their
golden hair,
That Phcebus blufhed to fee their match-
lefs grace,
And heavenly gods on earth did make
repair,
Jealousy.
To quip fair Venus' overweening pride,
Love's happy thoughts to Jcaloufy were
tied.
Then grew a wrinkle on fair Venus'
brow ;
The amber fweet of love is turned to
gall ;
Gloomy was heaven ; bright Phcebus
did avow
He could be coy, and would not love
at all ;
Swearing no greater mifchief could be
wrought
Than love united to a jealous thought.
(' Ciceronis Amor ' [1589], vii., pp.
123, 124.)
r
KINGS.
* Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. '
Bajazetf Emperor of Turkey.
Leave me, my lords, until I call you
forth,
For I am heavy and difconfolate.
\^Exit all but Bajazet.
So, Bajazet, now thou rcmaincll: alone,
64 Green Pastures.
Unrip the thoughts that harbour in thy
breaft
And eat thee up ; for arbiter here's none
That may defcry the caufe of thy unreft,
Unlefs thefe walls thy fecret thoughts
declare :
And princes' walls they fay unfaithful
are.
Why, that's the profit of great regiment,*
That all of us are fubjeft unto fears,
And this vain Ihew and glorious intent.
Privy fufpicion on each fcruple rears.
Ay, though on all the world we make
extent.
From the South Pole unto the Northern
Bears,
And ftretch our reign from Eaft to
Weftern fhore.
Yet doubt and care are with us ever-
more.
Look how the earth clad in her fummer's
pride
Embroidereth her mantle gorgeoufly
With fragrant herbs and flowers gaily
dyed.
Spreading abroad her fpangled tapeftry :
Yet under all a loathfome fnake doth
hide.
* governmetit.
Ki}igs.
Such is our life ; under crowns cares do
lie,
And fear, the fceptre rtill attends upon.
Oh, who can take delight in kingly
throne ?
Public diforders joined with private
cark ;
Care of our friends, and of our children
dear.
Do tofs our lives, as waves a filly bark.
Though we be fearlefs, 'tis not without
fear,
For hidden mifchief lurketh in the dark :
And ftorms may fall, be the day ne'er fo
clear.
He knows not what it is to be a king
That thinks a fceptre is a pleafant thing.
('Selimus,' xiv., pp. 195, 196.)
SOLILOQUr OF SELIMUS—
USURPER AND TYRANT.
Now, Selimus, confider who thou art ;
Long haft thou march'd in difguif'd
attire.
But now unmafk thyfclf, and play thy
part,
66 Green Pastures.
And manifeft the heat of thy defire ;
Nourifh the coals of thine ambitious fire ;
And think that then thy empire is mofl
fure,
When men for fear thy tyranny endure.
Think that to thee there is no worfe
reproach
Than filial duty in fo high a place.
Thou ought'ft to fet barrels of blood
abroach,
And feek with fword whole kingdoms to
difplace :
Let Mahound's* laws be locked up in
their cafe.
And meaner men, and of a bafer fpirit,
In virtuous aftions feek for glorious
merit.
I count it facrilege for to be holy,
Or reverence this threadbare name of
good ;
Leave to old men and babes that kind
of folly.
Count it of equal value with the mud :
Make thou a paiTage for thy gufhing
flood.
By flaughter, treafon, or what elfe thou
can.
And fcorn religion ; it difgraces man.
Mahomet.
Soliloquy of Selimus^ etc.
Nor pafs I what our holy votaries
Shall here objc6l againft my forward
mind ;
I reck not of their foolifh ceremonies,
But mean to take my fortune as I find :
Wifdom commands to follow tide and
wind,
And catch the front of fwift Occafion,
Before fhe be too quickly overgone :
Some men will fay I am too impious
Thus to lay ficgc againft my father's life,
And that I ought to follow virtuous
And godly fons ; that virtue is a glafs
Wherein I may my errant life behold,
And frame myfclf by it in ancient mould.
Good Sir, your wifdom's overflowing
wit,
Digs deep with Learning's wonder-
working fpade :
Perhaps you think that now forfooth
you fit
With fome grave wizard in a prattling
fhadc.
Avaunt fuch glafses; let them view in me,
The pcrfe6l pifture of right tyranny.
Is he my father ? why, I am his fon ;
1 owe no more to him than he to me.
63 Green Pastures.
But for I fee the Schoolmen are prc-
par'd
To plant 'gainft me their bookifh ordi-
nance,
I mean to ftand on a fententious guard ;
And without any far-fetched circum-
ftance,
Quickly unfold mine own opinion,
To arm my heart with Irreligion.
When firft this circled round, this
building fair.
Some god took out of the confufed mafs
(What god I do not know, nor greatly
care) ;
Then every man of his own 'dition was,
And everyone his life in peace did
pafs.
War was not then, and riches were not
known,
And no man faid this, or this, is mine
own.
The ploughman with a furrow did not
mark
How far his great poffeiTions did reach ;
The earth knew not the fhare, nor feas
the bark.
The foldiers enter'd not the batter'd
breach.
Nor trumpets the tantara loud did teach.
Soliloquy of Selimus^ etc.
There needed then no judge, nor yet
no law,
Nor any king of whom to ftand in awe.
But after Ninus, warlike Bolus' fon,
The earth with unknown armour did
array,
Then firft the facred name of king begun.
And things that were as common as the
day.
Did then to fet poffeflbrs firft obey.
Then they eftablifh'd laws and holy rites,
To maintain peace, and govern bloody
fights.
Then fome fage man, above the vulgar
wife,
Knowing that laws could not in quiet
dwell,
Unlefs they were obferv'd ; did firft
devife
The names of gods, religion, heaven
and hell.
And *gan of pains and fcign'd rewards
to tell :
Pains for thofe men which did ncglcdl
the law.
Rewards for thofe that liv'd in quiet awe.
Whereas indeed they were mere fidions,
And if they were not, Sclim thinks they
were ;
70 Green Pastures.
And thefc religious obfervations,
Only bug-bears to keep the world in
fear,
And make men quietly a yoke to bear.
So that Religion of itfelf a bable,*
Was only found to make us peaceable.
Hence in efpecial come the foolifh names
Of father, mother, brother, and fuch
like :
For whofo well his cogitation frames,
Shall find they ferve but only for to
flrike
Into our minds a certain kind of love.
For thefe names too are but a policy
To keep the quiet of fociety.
Indeed, I muft confefs they are not
bad,
Becaufe they keep the bafer fort in fear ;
But we, whofe mind in heavenly thoughts
is clad ;
Whofe body doth a glorious fpirit bear ;
That hath no bounds, but flieth every-
where ;
Why fhould we feek to make that foul a
flave,:
To which dame Nature fo large freedom
gave }
Amongft us men there is fome difference
* bauble.
Soliloquy of Selimus^ etc.
\ 71
Of actions, termed by us good or ill :
As he that doth his father recompencc,
Differs from him that doth his father
kill.
And yet I think, think other what they
will,
That parricides, when death hath given
them reft,
Shall have as good a part as have the
beft;
And that's juft nothing: for as I fuppofe
In death's void kingdom reigns eternal
night :
Secure of evil, and fecure of foes.
Where nothing doth the wicked man
affright.
No more than him that dies in doing
right.
Then fince in death nothing fhall to us
fall.
Here while I live, I'll have a fnatch at
all;
And that can never, never be attain'd
Unlefs old Bajazet do die the death.
(* Selimus,' xiv., pp. 201-206.)
r
72 Green Pastures.
Selimus agai?i alone — defeated.
Shall Sclim's hope be buried in the duft?
And Bajazct triumph over his fall ?
Then oh, thou blindful miftrefs of
mifliap,
Chief patronefs of Rhamus'"**" golden gates,
I will advance my ftrong revenging hand.
And pluck thee from thy ever-turning
v/hcel.
Mars, or Minerva, Mahound, Terma-
gant,
Or vvhofoe'er you are that fight 'gainll: me,
Come, and but fhow yourfelves before
my face,
And I will rend you all like trembling
reeds.
Well, Bajazet, though Fortune fmile
on thee.
And deck thy camp with glorious
viftory ;
Though Selimus now conquered by thee
Is fain to put his fafety in fwift flight ;
Yet fo he flies, that like an angry ram
He'll turn more fiercely than before he
came.
{Ibid.,^. 218.)
* Misprinted so for Rhamnus = Ramnusia,
surname of Nemesis. — G.
Jonah's Appeal to London^ etc.
JONJH'S APPEAL TO
LONDON AND ENGLAND.
You Iflanders, on whom the milder air
Doth fvveetly breathe the balm of kind
incrcafe ;
Whofe lands are fatt'ned with the dew
of Heaven,
And made more fruitful than Aftcan
plains ;
You, whom delicious pleafures dandle
foft;
Whofe eyes are blinded with fecurity ;
Unmafk yourfelvcs, call error clean
afide.
O, London, maiden of the miftrefs
Ifle,
Wrapt in the folds and fwathing clouts
of fhame.
In thee more fins than Nineveh con-
tains :
Contempt of God, defpite of reverend
age,
Negleft of law, defire to wrong the
poor.
Corruption, whoredom, drunkennefs,
and pride.
Swollen are thy brows with impudence
and (hame :
74 Green Pastures.
O, proud, adulterous glory of the Weft,
Thy neighbours burn, yet dofl thou fear
no fire ;
Thy preachers cry, yet doft thou flop
thine ears ;
The 'larum rings, yet flecpeth thou
fecure.
London, awake, for fear the Lord do
frown.
I fet a looking-glafs before thine eyes,
O turn, O turn, with weeping to the
Lord,
And think the prayers and virtues of
thy Queen"^
Defers the plague which otherwife
would fall.
Repent, O London, left for thine offence,
Thy fhepherd fail, whom mighty God
preferve :
That fhe may 'bide the pillar of the
Church
Againft the ftorms of Romifh anti-Chrift;
The hand of mercy overfhed her head ;
And let all faithful fubjedls say Amen.
('A Looking-glafs for London and Eng-
land' [1594], xiv., pp. 112, 113.)
Elizabeth.— G.
Dispraise of Love. 75
DISPRAISE OF LOVE,
Some fay Love,
Foolifh Love,
Doth rule and govern all the gods :
I fay Love,
Inconftant Love,
Sets men's renfes far at odds.
Some fwear Love,
Smooth-fac'd Love,
Is fweeteft fwcet that men can have :
I fay Love,
Sour Love,
Makes Virtue yield as Beauty's flave :
A bitter fweet, a folly word of all.
That forceth Wifdom to be Folly's thrall.
Love fweet :
Wherein fweet ?
In fading pleafures that do pain.
Beauty fweet :
Is that fweet.
That yicldcth forrow for a gain ?
If Love's fweet.
Herein fweet.
That minutes' joys are monthly woes :
'Tis not fweet.
That is fweet
Nowhere but where repentance grows :
H 2
76 Green Pastures.
Then love who lift, if Beauty be fo four ;
Labour for mc, Love reft in prince's
bower.
(' Mcnaphon ' [1589], vi., pp. 41, 42.)
r
LOFE { = Cupid as child).
Fond, feigning poets make of love a god,
And leave the laurel for the myrtle-
boughs
When Cupid is a child not paft the rod,
And fair Diana Daphne moft allows :
I'll wear the bays, and call the wag a
boy,
And think of love but as a foolifti toy.
Some give him bow and quiver at his
back ;
Some make him blind to aim without
advice ;
When, naked wretch, fuch feathered
bolts he lack
And fight he hath, but cannot wrong
the wife ;
For ufe but labour's weapon for defence.
And Cupid, like a coward, flieth thence.
Love.
He's god in Court, but cottage calls him
child ;
And Vella's virgins with their holy
fires
Do cleanfe the thoughts that fancy hath
defiled,
And burn the palace of his fond
defires ;
With chafle difdain they fcorn the foolilh
god,
And prove him but a boy not pall the
rod.
('Ciceronis Amor' [1589], vii., p. 136.)
LOFE'S TREACHERY*
Cupid abroad was 'lated in the night,
His wings vv^ere wet with ranging in
the rain ;
Harbour he fought, to me he took his
flight,
To dry his plumes : I heard the boy
complain ;
I oped the door, and granted his defire ;
I rofc myfelf, and made the wag a fire.
* After Anacreon. Another slightly variant
text in *Alcida'(i588).
"78 Green Pastures.
Looking more narrow by the fire's flame,
I fpied his quiver hanging by his
back :
Doubting the boy might my misfortune
frame,
I would have gone for fear of further
wrack ;
But what I drad, did me, poor wretch,
betide ;
For forth he drew an arrow from his
fide.
He pierced the quick, and I began to
ftart ;
A pleafing wound, but that it was too
high ;
His fhaft procured a fharp yet fugared
fmart :
Away he flew, for why"^ his wings
were dry ;
But left the arrow fl:icking in my breaft.
That fore I grieved I welcomed fuch a
gueft.
(* The Orpharion' [1589], xii., pp.
73, 74-)
* becattse.
Doro}i's Description of Samela.
79
BORON'S DESCRIPTION OF
SAMELA.
Like to Diana in her fummer-weed.
Girt with a crimfon robe of brighteft
dye,
Goes fair Samela ;
Whiter than be the flocks that flraggling
feed,
When waflied by Arethufa, faint"*^ they
lie.
Is fair Samela ;
As fair Aurora in her morning grey.
Decked with the ruddy glillcr of her
love,
Is fair Samela ;
Like lovely Thetis on a calmed day,
Whenas her brightnefs Neptune's fancy
move,
Shines fair Samela ;
Her treflcs gold, her eyes like glafly
ftreams ;
Her teeth are pearl, the brcarts are ivory ;
Of fair Samela ;
* Sidney Walker plausibly proposes 'fount ;'
but * faint ' is the undoubted reading, and
yields an excellent sense. — G.
Green Pastures.
Her checks, like rofe and lily, yield
forth gleams ;
Her brows bright arches framed of ebony:
Thus fair Samela
'PalTeth fair Venus in her bravell hue,
And Juno in the fliow of majcfty :
For fhe's Samela ;
Pallas in wit, all three if you will view.
For beauty, wit, and matchlefs dignity.
Yield to Samela.
(' Menaphon ' [i 589], vi., pp. 65, 66.)
N'OSEREZ FOUS, MON BEL
J MI?
Sweet Adon, dareft not glance thine
eye,—
N^oferez z'ous, j?ion be I ami P —
Upon thy Venus that muft die ?
Je vous en prie, pity me ;
N'oferez vous, mon bel, mon bel,
N''oferez vous, ?no?i bel a??ii?
See how fad thy Venus lies, —
N'oferez vous, mon bel a?ni ? —
Love in heart, and tears in eyes ;
Je vous en prie, pity me ;
N'oserez Vous, Mon Bel Ami? 8i
N^oferez vous, mon l^cl, mon hel^
N^ofcrez vous, mon bel arni ?
Thy face as fair as Paphos' brooks, —
N^ferez vous^ mon b el ami? —
Wherein Fancy baits her hooks;
Je z'ous en prie, pity^^me ;
N'oferez vous^ ?non be I, mon be/,
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami ?
Thy cheeks, like cherries that do grow, —
N'oJ'erez vous^ ?non bel ami? —
Amongft the Weflern mounts^of fnow ;
Je I'ous en prie, pity me ;
N^oferez vous, ?non bel, mon bel,
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami?
Thy lips vermilion, full of love, —
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami? —
Thy neck as filver-white as dove ;
Je vous en prie, pity me ;
N^oferez vous, mon bel, 7non bel,
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami?
Thine eyes, like flames of holy fires, —
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami ? —
Burn all my thoughts with fweet defires ;
Je vous en prie, pity me ;
N^oferez vous, mon bel, mon bel,
N^oferez vous, men bel ami? —
82 Gi'een Pastures.
All thy beauties fting my heart ; —
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami ? —
I muft die through Cupid's dart ;
"Je vous en prie, pity me ;
N^oferez I'ous^ mon beX ^non bely
N^oferez vous, mon bel ain't?
Wilt thou let thy Venus die ? —
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami? —
Adon were unkind, fay I, —
Je vous en prie, pity me ;
N^oferez vous, mon bel, mon bel^
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami?
To let fair Venus die for woe, —
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami? —
That doth love fweet Adon fo ;
Je vous en prie, pity me ;
N^oferez vous, mon bel, mon bel,
N^oferez vous, mon bel ami ?
('Never Too Late' [1590], viii., pp.
7S> 76.)
Eurymachus Fancy ^ etc.
EURTMACHUS' FJNCT IN THE
PRIME OF HIS JFFECTION.
When lordly Saturn, in a fable robe,
Sat full of frowns and mourning in the
Well;
The evening ftar fcarce peeped from
out her lodge,
And Phoebus newly galloped to his reft ;
Even then
Did I
Within my boat fit in the filent ftreams,
All void of eares as he that lies and
dreams.
As Phao, fo a ferryman I was ;
The country-lalTes faid I was too fair :
With eafy toil I laboured at mine oar,
To pafs from fide to fide who did repair ;
And then
Did I
For pains take pence, and, Charon-like,
tranfport
As foon the fwain as men of high
import.
When want of work did give me leave
to reft.
My fport was catching of the wanton
fifh:
84 Green Pastures.
So did I wear the tedious time away,
And with my labour mended oft m)
difli;
For why"*
I thought
That idle hours were calendars ol
ruth,
And time ill-fpent was prejudice to
youth.
I fcorned to love ; for were the nymph
as fair
As fhe that loved the beauteous Latmian
fwain ;
Her face, her eyes, her treffes, nor her
brows
Like ivory could my afFedion gain ;
For why
Ifaid
With high difdain, ' Love is a bafe
defire,
And Cupid's flames, why, they're but
watery fire.'
As thus I fat, difdaining of proud love,
* Have over, ferryman !' there cried a
boy;
* because.
Eurymachus' Fancy ^ etc.
And with him was a paragon for
hue,
A lovely damfcl, beauteous and coy ;
And there
With her
A maiden, covered with a tawny veil ;
Her face unfeen for breeding lover's
bale.
I fleered my boat, and when I came to
fhore,
The boy was winged ; methought it
was a wonder ;
The dame had eyes like lightning, or
the flafh
That runs before the hot report of
thunder ;
Her fmiles
Were fweet,
Lovely her face ; was ne'er fo fair a
creature ;
For earthly carcafe had a heavenly
feature.
* My friend,' quoth fhe, ' fweet ferry-
man, behold.
We three muft pafs, but not a farthing
fare ;
86 Green Pastures.
But I will give, for I am Queen of
love,
The brightefl: lafs thou lik'ft unto thy
fliare j
Choofc where
Thou love ft.
Be fhe as fair as Love's fweet lady is.
She ihall be thine, if that will be thy
blifs.'
With that fhe fmiled with fuch a pleafing
face
As might have made the marble rock
relent ;
But I, that triumphed in difdain of
love.
Bade fie on him that to fond love was
bent :
And then
Said thus,
' So light the ferryman for love doth
care,
As Venus pafs not if fhe pay no fare.'
At this a frown fat on her angry
brow ;
She winks upon her wanton fon hard
by;
He from his quiver drew a bolt of fire,
Eurymachus' Fancy ^ etc.
And aimed fo right as that he pierced
mine eye ;
And then
Did {he
Draw down the veil that hid the virgin's
face,
Whofc heavenly beauty lightened all the
place.*
Straight then I leaned mine arm upon
mine oar,
And looked upon the nymph (if fof) was
fair ;
Her eyes were ftars, and like Apollo's
locks
Methought appeared the trammels of
her hair :
Thus did
I gaze,
And fucked in beauty, till that fweet
defire
Caft fuel on, and fet my thoughts on fire.
When I was lodged within the net of
love,
And thus they faw my heart was all on
flame ;
* Spenser probably inspired this exquisite
fancy. — G.
t Query, if she ?
Green Pastures.
The nymph away, and with her trips
along
The winged boy, and with her goes his
dame :
O, then
I cried,
* Stay, ladies, ftay, and take not any care.
You all fhall pafs, and pay no penny
fare.'
Away they fling, and looking coyly back.
They laugh at me, O, with a loud dif-
dain !
I fend out fighs to overtake the nymphs.
And tears, as lures, to call them back
again ;
But they
Fly thence ;
But I fit in my boat, with hand on oar.
And feel a pain, but know not what's
the fore.
At laft I feel it is the flame of love ;
I ftrive, but bootlefs, to exprefs the pain;
It cools, it fires, it hopes, it fears, it frets,
And flirreth paflions throughout every
vein ;
That down
I fat.
Love. 89
And fighing did fair Venus' laws ap-
prove,
And fwore no thing To fwcct and four
as love.
(* Francefco's Fortunes ; or, the Second
Part of Never too Late ' [i 590], viii.,
PP- 175-179-)
LOVE.
CMullidor's (Madrigal.
Dildido, dildido,
O love, O love,
I feel thy rage rumble below and above!
In fummer-time I faw a face,
T^rop belle pour moi, he las, he las /
Like to a ftoned-horfe was her pace :
Was ever young man fo difmayed ?
Her eyes, like wax-torches, did make
me afraid :
Trop belle pour mot, voila mon trepas.
Thy beauty, my love, exceedeth fup-
pofes ;
Thy hair is a nettle for the niccft rofes.
t\ion dieu^ aide moi!
90 Green Pastures.
That I with the primrofc of my frcfli
wit
May tumble her tyranny under my feet :
He done je ferai un jeune roi !
Trop belle pour ?noi, he las, h'elas !
Trop belle pour moi, voila mon trepas.
(' Francefco's Fortunes ; or, the Second
part of Never too Late,' viii., p. 217.)
PASSIONATE LOVERS,
Whofo readeth the Romifh Records
and Grecian Hiftories, and turneth over
the volumes filled with the reports of
paffionate lovers, fhall find fundry fon-
nets fauced with forrowful paiTions,
divers ditties declaring their dumps,
careful complaints, woeful wailings, and
a thoufand fundry haplefs motions,
wherein the poor perplexed lovers do
point out how the beauty of their miftrefs
hath amazed their minds, how their
fancy is fettered with their exquifite
perfeftion, how they are fnared with the
form of her feature [ = perfon], how the
gifts of Nature fo bountifully beftowed
upon her hath entangled their minds
Passionate Lovers.
and bewitched their fcnfes : that her
excellent virtue, and fingular bounty
hath To charmed their affcdlions, and
her rare qualities hath fo drowned them
in defire, as they cfteem her courtefy
more than Cjeiar's kingdoms, her love
more than lordfliips, and her good will
more than all worldly wealth. Tufh,
all treafure is but trafli in refpect of her
perfon. (' Morando * [1587], iii., pp.
63, 64.)
r
EURTMACHUS IN PRAISE OF
MIRIMIDA.
When Flora, proud in pomp of all her
flowers.
Sat bright and gay,
And gloried in the dew of Iris fliowers.
And did difplay
Her mantle chequered all with gaudy
green :
Then I
Alone
A mournful man in Erccinc was feen.
92 Green Pastures.
With folded arms I trampled through
the grafs,
Tracing, as he
That held the Throne of Fortune brittle
glafs,
And love to be
Like fortune fleeting, as the reftlefs wind
Mixed
With mills,
Whofe damp doth make the cleareft eyes
grow blind.
Thus in a maze I fpied a hideous flame :
I call my fight,
And faw where blythely bathing in the
fame,
With great delight,
A worm did lie, wrapt in a fmoky fweat :
And yet
'Twas fl:range
It carelefs lay, and flirunk not at the
heat.
I fl:ood amazed, and wondering at the
fight,
While that a dame
That flione like to the heaven's rich
fparkling light,
Difcourfed the fame :
Eurymachus in Praise, etc.
And faid, My friend, this worm within
the fire
Which lies
Content,
Is Venus' worm, and rcprefents Defirc.
A Salamander is this princely beaft,
Deck'd with a crown.
Given him by Cupid, as a gorgeous
creft
'Gainft Fortune's frown :
Content he lies, and bathes him in the
flame.
And goes
Not forth :
For why he cannot live without the
fame.
As he : fo lovers lie within the fire
Of fervent love,
And fhrink not from the flame of hot
defire,
Nor will not move
From any heat that Venus' force im-
parts :
But lie
Content
Within a fire, and wafte away their
hearts.
94 Green Pastures.
Up flew the dame, and vanifli'd in a
cloud,
But there ftood I,
And many thoughts within my mind did
fliroud
Of love : for why
I felt within my heart a fcorching fire,
And yet
As did
The Salamander, 'twas my whole defire.
('Never too Late' [1590], viii., pp.
207-209.)
LOVE— WHAT?
What thing is love ? It is a power divine
That reigns in us ; or elfe a wreakful
law
That dooms our minds to beauty to in-
cline :
It is a ftar, whofe influence doth draw
Our hearts to Love, diflembling of
his might,
Till he be mafl:er of our hearts and
fight.
Love — What ?
Love is a difcord, and a ilrangc divorce
Betwixt our fenfe and rcafon, by whofe
power,
As mad with reafon, we admit that force,
Which wit or labour never may devour.
It is a will that brooketh no confent :
It would refufe, yet never may repent.
Love's a dcfire, which for to wait a time,
Doth lofe an age of years, and fo doth
pafs,
As doth the fhadow fever'd from his
prime.
Seeming as though it were, yet never
was :
Leaving behind nought but repentant
thoughts
Of days ill fpent, for that which
profits noughts.
It's now a peace, and then a fudden war ;
A hope confum'd before it is conceiv'd;
At hand it fears, and menaceth afar.
And he that gains is mofl of all deceiv'd :
It is a fecret hidden and not known.
Which one may better feel than write
upon.
(' Menaphon' [1589], vi.,pp. 140, 141.)
r
96 Green Pastures.
GENTLE COURTSHIPS
REJECTED.
Grime. I fay, Sir Gilbert, looking on
my daughter,
I curfe the hour that ever I got the
girl :
For, Sir, fhe may have many wealthy
fuitors.
And yet fhe difdains them all,
To have poor George a Greene unto
her hufband.
Bonfeld. On that, good Grime, I am
talking with thy daughter ;
But fhe, in quirks and quiddities of love.
Sets me to fchool, fhe is fo over-wife.
But, gentle girl, if thou wilt forfake the
Pinner,
And be my love, I will advance thee
high :
To dignify thofe hairs of amber hue,
I'll grace them with a chaplet made of
pearl.
Set with choice rubies, fparks, and
diamonds
Planted upon a velvet hood, to hide that
head
Wherein two fapphires burn like fpark-
ling fire :
Gentle Courtships Rejected.
This will I do, fair Bcttris, and far more,
; If thou wilt love the Lord of Doncafter.
Bettris. Heigh ho, my heart is in a
higher place,
Perhaps on the earl, if that be he :
See where he comes, or angry, or in
love ;
For why, his colour looketh difcontent.
(' George a Greene, the Pinner of Wake-
field' [1599], ^iv., pp. 131, 132.)
GEORGE A GREENE AND
BEATRICE {BETTRIS).
George. Tell me, fweet love, how is
thy mind content ?
What, canft thou brook to live with
George a Greene ?
Bettris. Oh, George, how little pleaf-
ing are thefe words ?
Came I from Bradford for the love of
thee.
And left my father for fo fweet a friend?
Here will I live until my life do end.
George. Happy am I to have fo fweet
a love.
{Ibid., p. 168.)
98 Green Pastures.
LOFE-SUPPLJNTER.
Edward, Prince of Wales.
Lacy, Earl of Lincoln.
Enter Prince Edward, with his poniard in
his hand : Lacy and Margaret.
Edward. Lacy, thou canft not fhroud
thy traitrous thoughts,
Nor cover, as did CafTius, all his wiles ;
For Edward hath an eye that looks as far
As Linceus from the fhores of Grecia.
Did not I fit in Oxford by the friar,
And fee thee court the maid of Frcfmg-
field,
Sealing thy flattering fancies with a kifs ?
Did not proud Bungay draw his portaffe
' forth,
And joining hand in hand had married
you,
If Friar Bacon had not flrook him dumb,
And mounted him upon a fpirit's back.
That we might chat at Oxford with the
friar ?
Traitor, what anfwerert, is not all this
true ?
Lacy. Truth all, my lord, and thus I
make reply :
Love-Supplanter.
Ac Harlftonc Fair there courting for
your grace,
Whenas mine eye furvcy'd her curious
fhape,*
And drew the beauteous glory of her
looks,
To dive into the centre of my heart ;
Love taught me that your honour did
but jell:,
That princes were in fancy but as men :
How that the lovely maid of Frefingficld
Was fitter to be Lacy's wedded wife,
Than concubine unto the Prince of
Wales.
Edward. Injurious Lacy, did I love
thee more
Than Alexander his Hepheftion ?
Did I unfold the paffion of my love,
And lock them in the clofet of thy
thoughts ?
Wert thou to Edward fecond to himfclf,
Sole friend, and partner of his fccret
loves ?
And could a glance of fading beauty
break
Th'inchaincd fetters of fuch private
friends ?
ity-exciting shape.
TOO Green Pastures.
Bafe coward, false, and too effeminate.
To be co-rival with a prince in thoughts:
From Oxford have I ported fince I dined.
To 'quite a traitor 'fore that Edward flcep.
Margaret. 'Twas I, my lord, not
Lacy ftepp'd awry,
For oft he fued and courted for yourfelf,
And ftill woo'd for the courtier all in
green ;
But I whom fancy made but overfond.
Pleaded myfelf with looks as if I lov'd ;
I fed mine eye with gazing on his face.
And ftill bewitch'd, lov'd Lacy with my
looks :
My heart with fighs, mine eyes pleaded
with tears,
My face held pity and content at once.
And more I could not cipher out by
figns.
But that I lov'd Lord Lacy with my
heart.
Then, worthy Edward, meafure with
thy mind,
If women's favours will not force men
fall ;
If beauty, and if darts of piercing love
Is not of force to bury thoughts of
friends. . . .
('Friar Bacon,' xiii., pp. 49-51.)
Love no Mortal Passion.
LOVE NO MORTAL PASSION.
Truly, fir (quoth Panthia), to fpcak
my mind freely without affedation, in
this cafe this is my opinion. That love
being no mortal paffion, but a fuper-
natural influence allotted unto every
man by Deltiny, charmeth and en-
chanteth the minds of mortal creatures,
not according to their wills, but as the
decree of the Fates fliall determine, for
fome are in love at the firfl look. As
was Perfeus with Andromeda. Some
never to be reclaimed, as was Narciffus.
Others fcorched at the firft fight, as
Venus herfelf was of Adonis. Some
always proclaim open wars to Cupid, as
did Daphne. Thus I conclude, that
men or women are no more or lefs fub-
jeft unto love, rcfpcfting their natural
conftitution, but by the fecrct influence
of a certain fupcrnatural conftellation.
('Morando' [1587], iii., p. 108.)
r
I02 Green Pastures.
SILVESTRO'S LJDT-LOVE, [;|
Her ftature like the tall flraight cedar-
trees,
Whofe ftately bulks doth fame th' Arabian
groves ;
A face like princely Juno when flie
braved
The Queen of Love 'fore Paris in the
vale :
A front befet with love and courtefy ;
A face like modeft Pallas when fhe
blulh'd
A filly fhepherd fhould be Beauty's
judge :
A lip fweet ruby red, grac'd with delight;
A cheek wherein for interchange of hue
A wrangling ftrife 'twixt lily and the
rofe :
Her eyes, two twinkling ftars in Winter
nights.
When chilling froft doth clear the azur'd
flcy;
Her hair of golden hue doth dim the
beams
That proud Apollo giveth from his
coach :
The Gnydian doves, whofe white and
fnowy pens
Sihestro's Lady-Love.
Doth ftain the filver-ftreaming ivory,
May not compare with thofe two moving
hills
Which, topt with pretty teats, difcovers
down a vale
Wherein the god of love may deign to
fleep;
A foot like Thetis when fhe tript the
lands
To Ileal Neptune's favour with her fteps.
(' Tritameron,' 2nd pt. [1587], iii.,
p. I23-)
r
(MENALCJS—THE PRODIGAVS
RETURN.
The filent fhade had fhadowed every
tree.
And Phoebus in the weft was fhrouded
low ;
Each hive had home her bufy labouring
bee ;
Each bird the harbour of the night did
know :
Even then,
When thus
104
Green Pastures.
All things did from their weary labour
lin,
Menalcas fate and thought him of his
fin.
His head on hand, his elbow on his
knee,
And tears, like dew, bedrcnch'd upon
his face ;
His face as fad as any fwain's might be ;
His thoughts and dumps befitting well
the place :
Even then,
When thus
Menalcas fate in paffions all alone.
He sighed then, and thus he 'gan to
moan.
I that fed flocks upon Theflalia's plains
And bade my lambs to feed on daffodil.
That liv'd on milk and curds, poor
fhepherd's gains,
And merry fate, and pip'd upon a
pleafant hill.
Even then,
When thus
I fate fecure and fear'd not Fortune's
ire.
Mine eyes eclipfd, fafl blinded by defire.
Menalcas.
los
Then lofty thoughts began to lift my
mind ;
I grudg'd and thought my fortune was
too low ;
A fliepherd's life 'twas bafe and out of
kind ;
The talleft cedars have the faireft grow.
Even then,
When thus
Pride did intend the fequel of my ruth,
Began the faults and follies of my
youth.
I left the fields, and took me to the
town ;
Fold fheep who lift, the hook was caft
away,
Menalcas would not be a country clown,
Nor fhepherd's weeds, but garments far
more gay :
Even then,
When thus
Afpiring thoughts did follow after ruth,
Began the faults and follies of my youth.
My fuits were filk, my talk was all of
State ;
I ftretch'd beyond the compafs of my
flceve ;
io6 Green Pastures.
The braveft courtier was Menalcas'
mate ;
Spend what I would, I never thought
on grief.
Even then,
When thus
T lafh'd out lavifh, then began my ruth,
And then I felt the follies of my
youth.
I caft mine eye on every wanton face,
And ftraight defire did hale me on to
love ;
Then, lover-like, I pray'd for Venus'
grace.
That Ihe my mistrefs' deep affects might
move :
Even then,
When thus
Love trapp'd me in the fatal bands of
ruth,
Began the faults and follies of my youth.
No coft I fpar'd to pleafe my miftrefs'
eye ; _
No time ill fpent in prefence of her
fight ;
Yet oft fhe frown'd, and then her love
muft die.
Menalcas,
But when fhe smiPd, oh then a happy
wight :
Even then,
When thus
^Defire did draw me on to deem of ruth,
Began the faults and follies of my youth.
The day in poems often did I pafs,
The night in fighs and forrows for her
grace ;
And fhe as fickle as the brittle glafs,
Held funfliine fhowers within her flatter-
ing face :
Even then.
When thus
I fpied the woes that women's love
enfueth,
I faw, and loath'd the follies of my youth.
I noted oft that beauty was a blaze ;
I faw that love was but a heap of cares ;
That fuch as flood as deer do at the gaze,
And fought their wealth amongft affec-
tion's fnares ;
Even fuch,
I faw,
With hot purfuit did follow after ruth,
And fofliered up the follies of their
youth.
io8 Green Pastures.
Thus clogg'd with love, with paffions
and with grief,
I faw the country life had leaft moleft ;
I felt a wound and pain would have I
relief, |
And thus refolv'd, I thought would fall I
out beft : I
Even then, j
When thus \
I felt my fenfes almoft fold to ruth,
I thought to leave the follies of my youth.
To flocks again, away the wanton town ;
Fond pride, avaunt, give me the fhep-
herd's hook ;
A coat of gray, I'll be a country clown :
Mine eye fliall fcorn on beauty for to
look :
No more,
A-do:
Both pride and love, arc ever pain'd*
with ruth.
And therefore farewell the follies of my
youth.
(' Mourning Garment ' [T590], ix.,
pp. 214-218.)
* pair'd (?)
Miserrimus. i 109
miSERRIMUS.
Deceiving world, that with alluring toys
- Haft made my life the fubjedl of thy
fcorn,
And fcorncft now to lend thy fading
T'outlcngth my life, whom friends
have left forlorn ;
How well are they that die ere they
be born,
And never fee thy Heights, which few
men fhun
Till unawares they helplefs are un-
done !
Oft have I fung of Love and of his
fire ;
But now I find that poet was advifed
Which made full feafts increafers of
defire,
And proves weak love was with the
poor defpifed ;
For when the life with food is not
fufficed,
What thoughts of Love, what motion
of delight,
What pleafance can proceed from fuch
a wight ?
I lo Green Pastures.
Witnefs my want, the murderer of my
wit,
My raviflicd fcnfc, of wonted fury
reft,
Wants luch conceit, as fliould in poems
fit,
Set down the forrow wherein I am
left:
But therefore have high heavens their
gifts bereft,
Becaufe fo long they lent them me to
ufc,
And I fo long their bounty did abufe.
O, that a year were granted me to live.
And for that year my former wit
rellored !
What rules of life, what counfel would
I give,
How fhould my fin with forrow be
deplored !
But I muft die of every man abhorred :
Time loofely fpcnt will not again be
won ;
My time is loofely fpent, and I un-
done.
(' Groat's-worth of Wit, bought with a
Million of Repentance' [1592I, xii.,
pp. 137, 138.)
Palmer s Ode.
PJLMER'S ODE.
Down the valley 'gan he track,
Bag and bottle at his back,
In a furcoat all of gray ;
Such wear Palmers on the way,
When with fcrip and ftaff they Tee
Jefus' grave on Calvary.
A hat of ftraw like a fwain
Shelter for the fun and rain,
With a fcollop fliell before :
Sandals on his feet he wore ;
Legs were bare, arms unclad ;
Such attire this Palmer had.
His face fair like Titan's fhine.
Gray and buxom were his cyne,
Whercout dropt pearls of forrow :
Such fweet tears Love doth borrow,
When in outward dews flie plains
Heart's diftrefs that lovers pains :
Ruby lips, cherry cheeks :
Such rare mixture Venus feeks.
When to keep her damfels quiet
Beauty fets them down their diet :
Adon was not thought more fair.
Curled locks of amber hair —
Locks where Love did fit and twine
Nets to fnare the gazer's eyne :
L 2
1 12 Green Pastures.
Such a Palmer ne'er was fecn,
Lefs love himfelf had Palmer been,
Yet for all he was fo quaint
Sorrow did his vifagc taint.*
Midft the riches of his face,
Grief dccipher'd his difgrace.
Every ftep ftrain'd a tear.
Sudden fighs fhow'd his fear :
And yet his fear by his fight,
Ended in a ftrange delight.
That his paffions did approve.
Weeds and forrow were for love.
(Greene's ' Never too Late ' [i 590], vlii.,
pp. 13-15-)
ANOTHER OF THE SAME.
Old Menalcas on a day.
As in field this fhepherd lay.
Tuning of his oaten pipe,
Which he hit with many a ftripe ;
Said to Corydon that he
Once was young and full of glee :
Blythe and wanton was I then.
Such defires follow men.
* tint.
Another of the Same.
As I lay and kept my fhccp,
Came the god that hatcth flecp,
Clad in armour all of fire,
Hand in hand with Ouccn Dcfire :
And with a dart that wounded nigh,
Picrc'd my heart as I did"lie :
That when I woke I 'gan fwear,
Phillis' beauty palm did bear.
Up I Hart, forth went I
With her face to feed mine eye :
There I faw Defirc fit,
That my heart with love had hit.
Laying forth bright Beauty's'hooks
To entrap my gazing looks.
Love I did, and 'gan to woo.
Pray and figh ; all would not do :
Women when they take the toy*
Covet to be counted coy.
Coy flic was, and I 'gan court ;
She thought love was but a fport.
Profound Hell was in my thought :
Such a pain Defire had wrought,
That I fued with fighs and tears.
Still ingrate flie flopt her ears
Till my youth I had fpcnt.
Lad a paflion of repent,
Told me flat that Dcfire,
* trijling^ playing.
Was a brand of Love's fire,
Which confumcth men in thrall,
Virtue, youth, wit, and all.
At this jfaw back I ftart,
But Defire from my heart,
Shook off Love ; and made an oath.
To be enemy to both.
Old I was when thus I fled,
Such fond toys as cloy'd my head.
But this I learn'd at Virtue's gate.
The way to good is never late.
{Uid., pp. 17-19.)
THE PENITENT PALMER'S
ODE.
Whilom in the Winter's rage
A Palmer old and full of age,
Sat and thought upon his youth.
With eyes, tears, and heart of ruth :
Being all with cares yblent.
When he thought on years miflpent.
Then his follies came to mind,
How fond love had made him blind.
And wrapt him in a field of woes,
Shadowed with Pleafure's fhoes ;
Then he fighcd and faid alas !
Man is fin, and flefli is grafs.
The Penitent Palmer s Ode.
I thought my miftrcfs' hairs were gold,
And in their locks my heart I fold :
Her amber treflcs were the fight
That wrapped me in vain delight :
Her ivory front,*her pretty chin,
Were ftales* that drew me on to fin :
Her ftarry looks, her cryftal eyes,
Brighter than the fun's arife :
Sparkling pleafing flames of fire,
Yoked my thoughts and my defire.
That I 'gan cry ere I blin,t
Oh, her eyes are paths to fin !
Her face was fair, her breath was fweet,
All her looks for love was meet :
But love is folly, this I know.
And beauty fadeth like to fnow.
Oh, why fhould man delight in pride,
Whofe bloiTom like a dew doth glide ;
When thefe fuppofes touch'd my thought,
That world was vain and beauty nought,
I 'gan figh and fay alas !
Man is fin, and flefh is grafs.
{Ibid., pp. 12 2, 123.)
snares.
t usually explained = r^czj^; h\x\. (\\x. — ^ grow
blind.'— G.
IIS
ii6
Green Pastures.
PASTORAL.
The Defcription of the Shepherd and his
Wife.
It was near a thicky fhade
That broad leaves of beech had made ;
Joining all their tops fo nigh
That fcarce Phoebus in could pry,
To fee if lovers in the thick*
Could dally with a wanton trick.
Where fate the fwain and his wife
Sporting in that pleaiing life
That Corydon commendeth fo,
All other lives to over-go.
He and flie did fit and keep
Flocks of kids and folds of iheep :
He upon his pipe did play,
She tun'd voice unto his lay.
And for you might her hufwife know
Voice did fing and fingers few ;
He was young, his coat was green,
With weltst of white, feam'd between,
Turned over with a flap
That breafl and bofom in did wrap ;
Skirts fide and pleatedt free,
Seemly hanging to his knee.
* thicket. t fringes. % plaited.
Pastoral.
A whittlc*^with a filvcr chape ;t
Cloak was ruflct, and the cape
Served for a bonnet oft
To fhroud him from the wet aloft,
A leather fcrip of colour red,
With a button on the head ;
A bottle full of country whigt
By the {hepherd's fide did lig :§
And in a little bufh hard by
There the Ihepherd's dog did lie ;
Who while his mafter 'gan to fleep
Well could watch both kids and fheep.
The fliepherd was a frolic fwain.
For though his 'parell was but plain,
Yet doonell the^Authors foothly fay
His colour was both frefli and gay ;
And in their writesll plain difcufs
Fairer was not Tityrus,
Nor Menalcas, whom they call
The alderleefeft"*"*^ fwain of all :
'Seemingtf him was his wife,
Both in linetl and in life ;
Fair flie was as fair might be,
Like the rofcs on the tree ;
* clasp-knife. f clasp. % whey.
§ lie. II do.
IT wrilings, as, * thick ' for 'thicket ' above.
-G.
** dearest of all. ff be-seeming. XX ^^^'^S^-
ii8
Green Pastures.
Buxom, blithe, and young, I ween ;
Beauteous, like a Summer's queen :
For her cheeks were ruddy hued
As if lilies were imbrued
With drops of blood, to make the white
Pleafe the eye with more delight ;
Love did lie within her eyes
In ambufli for fome wanton prize :
A leefer"^ lafs than this had been,
Corydon had never feen ;
Nor was Phillis that fair May
Half fo gaudy or fo gay :t
She wore a chaplet on her head ;
Her calTock was of fcarlet red.
Long and large, as ftraight as bent ;t
Her middle was both fmall and gent.§
If country loves fuch fweet defires gain,
What lady would not love a fhepherd
fwain ?
(* Mourning Garment' [1590], ix,,
pp. 141-144.)
dearer.
joyfuly bright,
genteel.
Pastoral, 1 1 9
PASTORAL.
The Shepherd's Ode.
Walking in a valley green
Spied I Flora, Summer queen :
Where flie, heaping all her graces,
Niggard feem'd in other places :
Spring it was, and here did fpring
All that Nature forth can bring ;
Groves of plcafant trees there grow,
Which fruit and fhadow could bellow ;
Thick-leaved boughs fmall birds cover
Till fwect notes themfclves difcover ;
Tunes for number feem'd confounded
Whilft their mixture's mufic founded :
Greeing well, yet not agreed
That one the other ihould exceed.
A fweet ftream here filent glides
Whofe clear water no fifli hides ;
Slow it runs, which well bewray'd
The pleafant fhore the current ftay'd :
In this ftream a rock was planted
Where nor art nor nature wanted :
Each thing fo did other grace
As all places may give place ;
Only this the place of plcafurc
Where is heaped Nature's treafure.
I20 Green Pastures.
Here mine eyes with wonder ftaid,
Eyes amaz'd and mind afraid :
Raviiht with what was beheld,
From departing were withheld.
Mufmg then with found advice
On this earthly paradife ;
Sitting by the river fide
Lovely Phillis was defcried :
Gold her hair, bright her eyne
Like to Phoebus in his fhine ;
White her brow, her face was fair,
Amber-breath perfum'd the air ;
Rofe and lily both did feek
To fliew their glory on her cheek.
Love did neftle in her looks,
Baiting there his fharpeft hooks :
Such a Phillis ne'er was feen
More beautiful than Love's queen.
Doubt it was whofe greater grace,
Phillis' beauty, or the place.
Her coat was of fcarlet red.
All in pleats* a mantle fpread :
Fring'd with gold ; a wreath of boughs
To check the fun from her brows.
In her hand a fhepherd's hook.
In her face Diana's look :
Her fheep graz'd on the plains
She had flolen from the fwains :
Pastoral. 121
Under a cool filcnt fliadc,
By the ilreams Ihc garlands made.
Thus late Phillis all alone :
Miffed file was by Corydon,
Chiefell Twain, of all the reft
Lovely Phillis likt him beft.
His face was like Phoebus' love,
His neck white as Venus' dove ;
A ruddy check iill'd with fmiles,
Such Love hath when he beguiles :
His locks brown, his eyes were gray,
Like Titan in a Summer day.
A ruffet jacket, fleeves red ;
A blue bonnet on his head ;
A cloak of gray fenc'd the rain ;
Thus 'tyred was this lovely Twain.
A fhepherd's hook her dog tied.
Bag and bottle by his Tide :
Such was Paris, fhepherds fay,
When with CEnone he did play.
From his flock ftray'd Corydon,
Spying Phillis all alone :
By the ftream he Phillis Tpicd,
Braver than was Flora's pride :
Down the valley 'gan he track.
Stole behind his true love's back :
The Tun fhone and fhadow made ;
Phillis roTe and was afraid.
When fhe Taw her lover there.
122 Green Pastures.
Smile flie did, and left her fear :
Cupid that difdain doth loath
With defire ftrake them both.
The fwain did woo, fhc was nice,
Following fafliion nay'd"*" him twice :
Much ado he kifl'd her then ;
Maidens blufh when they kifs men :
So did Phillis at that ftowre.f
Her face was like the rofe flower.
Laft they 'greed, for Love would fo,
Faith and troth they would no mo.
For fhepherds ever held it fin
To falfe the love they lived in.
The fwain gave a girdle red.
She fet garlands on his head.
Gifts were given, they kifs again,
Both did fmile, for both were fain.t
Thus was love 'mongft fhepherds fold
When fancy knew not what was gold :
They woo'd and vow'd and that they
keep,
And go contented to their fheep.
(' Ciceronis Amor' [1589], vii., pp.
180-184.)
r
* denied. f contention. % fond.
Phillis and Coridon.
PHILLIS .'fND CORIDON.
J Pajioral.
Phillis kept fliccp along the Wcftern
plains,
And Coridon did feed his flocks hard
by;
This fliepherd was the flower of all the
fvvains
That traced the downs of fruitful
Thefl'aly ;
And Phillis, that did far her flocks fur-
pafs
In filver hue, was thought a bonny lafs.
A bonny lafs, quaint in her country 'tire,
Was lovely Phillis, — Coridon more fo;
Her locks, her looks, did fet the fwain
on fire ;
He left his lambs, and he began to
woo ;
He looked, he flghed, he courted with
a kifs ;
No better could the filly fwad* than this.
He little knew to paint a tale of love ;
Shepherds can fancy, but they cannot
fay ;
* sicaifi, cloivn.
~~ ~ M~2
124 Gf-een Pastures,
Phillis 'gan fmilc, and wily thought to
prove
What uncouth* grief poor Coridon
did pay ;
She afked him how his flocks or he did
fare ?
Yet penfive thus his fighs did tell his
care.
The fhepherd blufhed when Phillis
queftioned fo,
And fwore by Pan it was not for his
flocks ;
' 'Tis love, fair Phillis, breedeth all this
woe.
My thoughts are trapt within thy
lovely locks ;
Thine eye hath pierced, thy face hath
fet on fire ;
Fair Phillis kindleth Coridon's defire.'
* Can fliepherds love r' faid Phillis to
the fwain :
* Such faints as Phillis,' Coridon re-
plied :
* Men when they luft can many fancies
feign,'
Said Phillis. This not Coridon de-
nied,
* cloiunish. awkward.
Pbillis and Coridon.
That lull had lies ; * But love,' quoth
he, * fays truth :
Thy fhephcrd loves, then, Phillis, what
cnfu'th r'
Phillis was won : flic blufhcd and hung
the head ;
The fwain ftept to and cheered her
with a kifs :
With faith, with troth, they ilruck the
matter dead ;
So ufed they when men tho^ught not
amifs :
This love begun and ended both in one ;
Phillis was loved, and (he liked Coridon.
(* Perimedes ' [1588], vii., pp. 91, 92.)
PJSTORAL.
The Shepherd's Wife s Song.
Ah, what is love ? It is a pretty thing,
As fweet unto a fliepherd as a king,
And fwcetcr too ;
For kings have cares that wait upon a
crown,
And cares can make the Tweetell love to
frown :
Ah then, ah then,
126 Green Pastures,
If country loves fuch fweet defires do
gain,
What lady would not love a fhepherd
Twain ?
His flocks are folded, he comes home at
night,
As merry as a king in his delight.
And merrier too ;
For kings bethink them what the State
require.
Where fliepherds carelefs carol by the
fire :
Ah then, ah then,
If country loves fuch fweet defires do
gain.
What lady would not love a fliepherd
fwain ?
He kifleth firft, then fits as blithe to
eat
His cream and curds as doth the king
his meat.
And blither too ;
For kings have often fears when they
do fup,
Where fliepherds dread no poifon in
their cup :
Ah then, ah then,
Pastoral.
If country loves fuch fwcct dcfircs do
gain,
What lady would not love a fhcpherd
fwain ?
To bed he goes, as wanton then, I
ween,
As is a king in dalliance with a queen,
More wanton too ;
For kings have many griefs affeds* to
move.
Where fhepherds have no greater grief
than love :
Ah then, ah then,
If country loves fuch fweet defires do
gain,
What lady would not love a flicpherd
fwain ?
Upon his couch of ilraw he fleeps as
found
As doth the king uponjhis bed of down,
More founder too ;
For cares caufc kings full oft their llcep
to fpill.t
Where weary fliepherds lie and fnort
their fill :
Ah then, ah then,
* affection. + spoil.
128 Green Pastures.
If country loves fuch fvvcet dcfircs do
gain,
What lady would not love a fhepherd
fwain ?
Thus with his wife he fpends the year,
as blithe
As doth the king at ev^ery tide or fithc,"*
And blither too ;
For kings have wars and broils to take
in hand,
Where Ihcpherds laugh and love upon
the land :
Ah then, ah then,
If country loves fuch fweet defires do
gain,
What lady would not love a fhepherd
fwain ?
r
* Query * tide' = Christmas-tide ? ; 'sithe'
not simply 'time,' but = scythe = Harvest ? —
G.
Pasloral. 129
PASTORAL.
Radagon in Dianem.
It was a valley gaudy-green,
Where Dian at the fount was feen ;
Green it was,
And did 'pafs
All other of Diana's bowers
In the pride of Flora's flowers.
A fount it was that no fun fees,
Circled in with cyprefs-trees.
Set fo nigh
As Phoebus' eye
Could not do the virgins fcathe.
To fee them naked when they bathe.
She fat there all in white, —
Colour fitting her delight :
Virgins fo
Ought to go,
For white in armory is placed
To be the colour that is chafte.
Her tafF'ta caflibck you might fee
Tucked up above her knee ;
Which did fliow
There below
Legs as white as whales-bone ;
So white and challe were never none.
I30
Green Pastures.
Hard by her, upon the ground,
Sat her virgins in a round,
Bathing their
Golden hair,
And finging all in notes high,
• Fie on Venus' flattering eye !'
* Fie on love ! It is a toy ;
Cupid witlefs and a boy ;
All his fires,
And defircs.
Are plagues that God fent down from
high,
To pefter men with mifery.
As thus the virgins did difdain
Lovers' joy and lovers' pain,
Cupid nigh
Did efpy.
Grieving at Diana's fong ;
Slyly flole thefe maids among.
His bow of fteel, darts of fire,
He fhot amongft them fweet defire ;
Which ftraight flies
In their eyes,
And at the entrance made them ftart.
For it ran from eye to heart.
Pastoral.
Califto ftraight fuppofcd Jove
Was fair and frolic for to love ;
Dian flie
'Scaped not free ;
For well I wot, hereupon
She loved^the fwain Endymion.
Clytie Phabus, and Chloris' eye
Thought none fo fair as Mercury :
Venus thus
Did difcufs,
By her fon in darts of fire,
None fo chafte to check defire.
Dian rofe with all her maids,
BluHiing thus at love's braids :*
With fighs, all
Show their thrall ;
And flinging hence pronounce this faw,
* What fo flrong as love's fweet law ?'
(' Francifco's Fortunes, or^Sccond Part
of Never too Late' [1590], viii.,
pp. 212-214.)
* Dyce annotates * i.e.^ perhaps crafts, de-
ceits (z^/(/<f Steeven's note on ** Since French-
men are so braid," vShakespeare's *' All's Well
that Ends Well," Act IV., Sc. ii.).' But surely
the word is simply 'braids = upbraids or up-
braidings, as 'pass for surpass, 'gan for began,
etc., etc.— G.
132
Green Pastures.
PASTORAL.
Philomela's Ode that Jhe Jung in her
Arbour.
Sitting by a river's fide,
Where a filent ftream did glide,
Mufe I did of many things
That the mind in quiet brings.
I 'gan think how fome men deem
Gold their god ; and fome efteem
Honour is the chief content
That to man in life is lent ;
And fome others do contend
Quiet none like to a friend ;
Others hold, there is no wealth
Compared to a perfect health ;
Some man's mind in quiet ftands
When-he is lord of many lands :
But I did figh, and faid all this
Was but a Ihade of perfed blifs ;
And in my thoughts I did approve
Naught fo fweet as is true love.
Love 'twixt lovers, palTeth thefe,
When mouth kijTeth and heart 'grees;
With folded arms and lips meeting,
Each foul another fwcetly greeting :
For by the breath the foul fleeteth,
And foul with foul in kiffing meeteth!
Pastoral.
If love be fo fwect a thing
That fuch happy blifs doth bring,
Happy is love's fugarcd thrall ;
But unhappy maidens all,
Who elleem your virgin bliflcs
Sweeter than a wife's fweet kiiTes.
No fuch quiet to the mind
As true love with kiffcs kind :
But if a kifs prove uncharte
Then is true love quite difgraccd.
Though love be fwect, learn this
of me,
No love fwect but honelly.
('Philomela, the LadyFitzwaltcr's Night-
ingale ' [1592], xi., pp. 123, 124.)
PASTORAL.
Philomelds Second Ode.
It was frofty vvinter-feafon.
And fair Flora's wealth was geafon.*
Meads that erll: with green were fprcad,
With choice flowers diap'red,
* My friend Mr. A. II. Bullen (* Lyrics from
Elizabethan Romances ') annotates = rare, un-
common. Such is a meaning of the word, but
not the meaning here. It is = parched, dried
up — as a well is said to be gcasoned when it is
dry.— G.
134 Green Pastures.
Had tawny veils ; cold had fcanted
What the Spring and Nature planted.
Leaflcfs boughs there might you fee,
All except fair Daphne's tree :
On their twigs no birds perched ;
Warmer coverts now they fearched ;
And by Nature's fecret reafon
Framed their voices to the feafon.
With their feeble tunes bewraying
How they grieved the Spring's decaying.
Frofty Winter thus had gloomed
Each fair thing that Summer bloomed ;
Fields were bare, and trees unclad,
Flowers withered, birds were fad ;
When I faw a fhepherd fold
Sheep in cote, to fhun the cold ;
Himfelf fitting on the grafs
That with the froft withered was,
Sighing deeply, thus 'gan fay ;
' Love is folly when aftray :
Like to love no pafTion fuch.
For 'tis madnefs, if too much ;
If too little, then defpair ;
If too high, he beats the air
With bootlefs cries ; if too low,
An eagle matcheth with a crow :
Thence grow jars. Thus I find,
Love is folly, if unkind ;
Yet do men moft defire
Pastoral.
135
To be heated with this fire,
Whofc flame is fo plcafing hot
That they burn, yet feel it not.
Yet hath love another kind,
Worfc than thefe unto the mind ;
That is, when a wanton eye
Leads defire clean awry,
And with the bee doth rejoice
Every minute to change choice ;
Counting he were then in blifs
If that each fair face were his.
Highly thus is love difgracM
When the lover is unchalle,
And would tafte of fruit forbidden,
'Caufe the 'fcape is eafily hidden.
Though fuch love be fwcct in brewing.
Bitter is the end enfuing ;
For the honour of love he fliamcth,
And himfelf with lull defameth ;
For a minute's pleafurc -gaining,
Fame and honour ever llaining.
Gazing thus fo far awry,
Lail: the chip falls in his eye ;
Then it burns that erft but heat him ;
And his own rod 'gins to beat him ;
His choiccrt fweets turn to gall ;
He finds lull is fin's thrall ;
That wanton women in their eyes
Men's deceivings do comprifc ;
N a
136
Green Pastures.
That homage done to fair faces
Doth difhonour other graces.
If lawlcfs love be fuch a fin,
Curfed is he that lives therein ;
For the gain of Venus' game
Is the downfall unto fhame.'
Here he paufcd, and did ftay,
Sighed, and rofe, and went away.
(' Philomela,' xi., pp. 133-135.)
r
ISABELUS ODE*
Sitting by a river fide.
Where a filent ftream did glide,
Bank'd about with choice flowers,
Such as fpring from April fhowers.
When fair Iris fmiling fliews
All her riches in her dews :
Thick-leaved trees fo were planted
As nor Art nor Nature wanted :
* It will be observed that Philomela's Ode,
that precedes this, opens with the same
couplet. Even my friend Mr. A. H. Bullen
seems to have overlooked this Ode because of
this, and so omitted it in his selections, etc.
('Lyrics from Elizabethan Romances'), but
even he shows by his actual selections per-
functory acquaintance with Greene and others.
— G.
Isabellas Ode. 137
Bord'ring all the brook with fhadc
As if Venus there had made
By Flora's wile a curious bower
To dally with her paramour.
At this current as I ga/.'d.
Eyes cntrapp'd, mind amaz'd ;
I might fee in my ken
Such a flame as fireth men :
Such a fire as doth fry
With one blaze both heart and eye :
Such a heat as doth prove
No heat like to heat of love.
Bright flie was, for 'twas a flic
That traced her fleps towards mc ;
On her head flie wore a bay,
To fence Phoebus' light away :
In her face one might dcfcry
The curious beauty of the fky ;
Her eyes carried darts of fire,
Feather'd all with fwift dcfire ;
Yet forth thcfe fiery darts did pafs
Pearled tears as bright as glafs ;
That wonder 'twas in her cync
Fire and water fliould combine :
If th' old faw did not borrow
Fire is love and water forrow.
Down flie fate, pale and fad,
No mirth in her looks flic had :
Face and eyes fliowed diflrcfs,
138 Green Pastures.
Inward fighs difcourf'd no Icfs :
Head on hand might I fee,
Elbow leaned on her knee ;
Laft fhe breathed out this faw,
* Oh, that love hath no law !'
Love enforceth with conftraint,
Love delighteth in complaint ;
Whofo loves hates his life,
For love's peace is mind's ftrife ;
Love doth feed on beauty's fare,
Every difh fauc'd with care :
Chiefly women, reafon why,
Love is hatch'd in their eye ;
Thence it fteppeth to the heart,
There it poifoneth every part :
Mind and heart, eye and thought,
Till fweet love their woes hath wrought:
Then repentant they 'gan cry,
' Oh, my heart that trow'd* mine eye !'
Thus fhe faid, and then flie rofe.
Face and mind both full of woes ;
Flinging thence, with this faw.
Fie on love that hath no law.
('Never too Late,' viii., pp. 50-52.)
^
* trusted, held for true.
Pastoral.
FJSTORJL.
Francefcos Ode.
When I look about the place
Where forrow nurfeth up difgracc ;
Wrapt within a fold of" cares,
Whofe dillrefs no heart fpares :
Eyes might look, but fee no light,
Heart might think but on dcfpitc :
Sun did (hine, but not on mc.
Sorrow faid it may not be,
That heart or eye fhould once polTcfs
Any falve to cure dillrefs :
For men in prifon mull fuppofc
Their couches are the beds of woes.
Seeing this I fighcd then.
Fortune thus fhould punifh men.
But when I call'd to mind her face
For whofe love I brook this place ;
Starry eyes, whereat my fight
Did eclipfe with much delight ;
Eyes that lighten and do fliinc,
Beams of love that are divine ;
Lily cheeks whereon befide
Buds of rofes fliew their pride ;
Cherry lips, which did fpcak
Words that made all hearts to break :
Words moftfweet, for breath was fwcct ;
140
Green Pastures.
Such perfume for love is meet.
Precious words, as hard to tell
Which more pleafed, wit or fmell :
When I faw my greateft pains
Grow for her that beauty flains ;
Fortune thus I did reprove. —
Nothing grievcfull grows from Love.
{Uid.y pp. 62-63.)
PASTORAL.
Boron's Jig.
Through the fhrubs as I 'gan crack
For my lamb's little ones,
'Mongfl: many pretty ones.
Nymphs I mean, whofe hair was black
As the crow :
Like the fnow
Her face and brows fhin'd, I ween ;
I faw a little one,
A bonny pretty one,
As bright, buxom, and as fheen
As was fhe
On her knee,
Pastoral. 1 4 1
That lull'd the god, whofc arrows warms:
Such merry little ones,
Such fair-fac'd pretty ones,
As dally in Love's chiefell harms ;
Such was mine ;
Whofc gray eync
Made mc love. I 'gan to woo
This fwcct little one,
This bonny pretty one ;
I woo'd hard a day or two ;
Till (he bad,
Be not fad ;
Woo no more, I am thine own.
Thy dcarcll little one,
Thy truell pretty one ;
Thus was faith and firm love fliown,
As behoves
Shepherds' loves.
(* Menaphon' [1589], vi., pp. 69, 70.)
r
PERSEl'ERJNCE If INS.
I now, quoth (he, both fee and try
by experience, that there is no fifli fo
fickle but will come to the bait ; no
doe fo wild but will lUnd at the gaze* ;
* staring.
142 Green Pastures,
no hawk fo haggard''' but will (loop to
the lure ; no nieffef fo ramaget but will
be reclaimed to the lunes ; no fruit fo
fine but the caterpillar will confume it ;
no adamant§ fo hard but will yield to
the file ; ... no maid fo free but love
will bring her to bondage and thraldom.
('Card of Fancy' [1587], iv., p. 120.)
[On the word* lunes' the Shakefpeare
ftudent will do well to confult a full note
in Works, vol. ii., pp. 3 30-3 3 3, and Glof-
farial Index (in vol. xv.) — one of multi-
plied inftances of Greene's words and
phrafing fhedding light on obfcurities
and cruxes of Shakefpeare. — G.]
r
WORD-PORTRJITS.
Ovid.
Quaint was Ovid in his rhyme,
Chiefeft poet of his time :
What he could in words rehcarfe
Ended in a pleafing verfe :
* untraijied. + haivk.
X wild. § diaviond.
JVord-Pcrtraits.
Apollo with his ayc-grccn hays
Crown'd his head to fliow his prail'c ;
And all the Mufcs did agree
He fliould be theirs, and none but he.
This Poet chanted all of Love,
Of Cupid's wings and Venus' dove ;
Of fair Corinna and her hue.
Of white and red and veins blue.
How they lov'd and how they 'greed,
And how in fancy they did fpecd.
His Elegies were wanton all,
Telling of Love's plcafing thrall,
And 'caufc he would the Poet fcem.
That bell of Venus' laws could deem,
Strange precepts he did impart,
And writ three books of Love's art ;
There he taught how to woo.
What in love men fliould do ;
How they might fooncft win
Honeft women unto fin :
Thus to tcllen all the truth
He infcded Rome's youth,
And with his books and vcrfcs brought
That men in Rome nought clfc fought
But how to 'tangle maid or wife,
With honour's breach through wanton
life;
The foolifli fort did for his (kill
Praifc the dccpncfs of his quill,
144 Green Pastures.
And like to him faid there was none
Since died old Anacreon.
But Rome's Auguftus, world's wonder,
Brook'd not of this foolifh blunder ;
Nor lik'd he of this wanton verfe
That Love's laws did rehearfe ;
For well he faw and did efpy
Youth was fore impair'd thereby ;
And by experience he finds
Wanton books infeft the minds ;
Which made him ftraight for reward,
Though the cenfure^-feemed hard
To banifh Ovid quite from Rome,
This was great Auguftus' doom ;
For (quoth he) Poets' quills
Ought not for to teach men ills ;
For learning is a thing of praife,
To fhow precepts to make men wife ;
And near the Mufes' facred^places
Dwells the virtuous-minded graces.
'Tis fhame and fin, then, for good wits
To fhow their fkill in wanton fits.
This Auguftus did reply.
And as he faid,'fo think I.
('Greene's Vifion' [1592], xii., pp.
199-201.)
r
* Judgment.
IVord-Portraits.
•45
The Description of Sir GcoJ'rt-y Chaucer.
His ftaturc was not very tall ;
Lean he was ; his legs were fmall,
Hofcd within a rtock of red ;
A button'd bonnet on his head,
From under which did hang, I ween,
Silver hairs both bright and flicen ;
His beard was white, trimmed round,
His countenance blithe and merry
found :
A fleevelefs jacket large and wide,
With many plaits and fkirts' fide.
Of water chamlet* did he wear
A whittellt by his belt he bear.
His flioes were corned, t broad before ;
His inkhorn at his fide he wore ;
And in his hand he bore a book ;
Thus did this ancient poet look.
{Ibid.f pp. 209-210.)
* earner s hair cloth , rain-proof.— G.
+ clasp-knife.
X project ing= cornered.
14^ Green Pastures.
John Gower.
Large he was, his height was long ;
Broad of breaft, his limbs were ftrong
But colour pale, and wan his look, —
Such have they that plyen their book
His head was gray and quaintly fhorn
Neatly was his beard worn ;
His vifage grave, ftern and grim, —
Cato was mod like to him.
His bonnet was a hat of blue,
His fleeves ftraight, of that fame hue ;
A furcoat* of a tawny dye,
Hung in plaits over his thigh ;
A breech clofe unto his dock,
Handfom'd with a long ftock ;
Pricked before were his fhoon,
He wore fuch as others doon :
A bag of red by his fide.
And by that his napkin tied :
Thus John Gower did appear,
Quaint attired, as you hear.
{Ibid., p. 2 10.)
* outer garment.
J Ford-Portraits.
H7
Solomon.
His ftature tall, large, and high,
Limb'd and fcatur'd bcautcouny ;
Chcll was broad, arms were lUong,
Locks of amber pafling long.
That hung and wav'd upon his neck,
Heaven's beauty might they check.
Vifage fair and full of grace,
Mild and ftcrn, for in one place
Sate Mercy meekly in his eye,
And juftice in his looks hard bye :
His robes of biffe* were crimfon hue,
Bordered round with twines of blue :
In Tyre no richer filk fold,
Over-braided all with gold ;
Collly fct with precious Hone,
Such before I ne'er faw none :
A malTy crown upon his head,
Chcquer'd through with rubies red ;
Orient pearl and bright topacct
Did burnifh out each valiant place :
Thus this Prince that feemt^d fagc
Did go in royal equipage.
(7^/V.,p. 275.)
fine silk.
+ tofaz.
o 2
148 Green Pastures.
POTJTOES.
[Llcentloufnefs works waftcfully] . . .
the apothecaries would have furphaling
water and potato roots lie dead on their
hands. ('Difputation between a Hee and
Shee Conny-Catcher [1592], x., 234.)
[Surphaling, i.e.^ a colmetic wafh. It
is odd to find potatoes in apothecaries'
Ihops. They were then held to be
provocatives. They had not long been
introduced into England. — G.]
r
TIME.
In time we fee the filver drops
The craggy ftones make foft ;
The floweft fnail in time we fee
Doth creep and climb aloft.
With feeble puffs the talleft pine
In trad of time doth fall ;
The hardcft heart in time doth yield
To Venus' luring call.
Where chilling froft alate did nip
There flafheth now a fire ;
Where deep difdain bred noifome hate,
There kindleth now defire.
The 'Tongue,
Time caufcth hope to have his hap
What care in time not cafcd ?
In time I loathed that now I love ;
In both content and plcafed.
('Arbafto' [1584], iii., p. 248.)
THE TONGUE.
It feemeth (faith Bias) that Nature
by fortifying the tongue would teach
how precious and neccflary a virtue
filence is ; for fhe hath placed before
it the bulwark of the teeth, that if it
will not obey reafon, which being within
ought to fervc inftcad of a bridle to ftay
it from preventing the thoughts, we
might rcftrain and challife fuch impu-
dent babbling by biting. And, therefore,
faith he, we have two eyes and two ears,
that thereby we may learn to hear and
fee much more than is fpoken.
('Penelope's Web,' v., p. 221.)
150
Green Pastures.
Inve5live on Contemporaries.
I am not ignorant how eloquent
our gowned age is grown of late ; fo
that every mechanical mate abhors the
Englifli he was born to, and plucks with
a folemn pcriphrafis his tit z'ales from
the inkhorn ; which I impute not h
much to the perfeftion of arts as to
the fervile imitation of vainglorious
tragedians, who contend not fo ferioufly
to excel in aftion as to embowel the
clouds in a fpeech of comparifon ;
thinking themfelves more than initiated
in poets' immortality if they but once
get Boreas by the beard and the heavenly
Bull by the dew-lap. But herein I
cannot fo fully bequeath them to folly
as their idiot art-mafters, that intrude
themfelves to our ears as the alchymifts of
eloquence : who (mounted on the flage
of arrogance) think to outbrave better
pens with the fwelling bombaft of a
bragging blank verfe. Indeed, it may
be the ingrafted overflow of fome kil-
coW^ conceit, that overcloyeth their
imagination with a more than drunken
refolution, being not extemporal in the
* =a butcher — query a disguised gird at
Shakespeare the wool-stapler's son ? — G.
The Tongue.
invention of any other means to vent
tlicir manhood, commits the digcllion
of their choleric encumbrances to the
fpacious volubility of a drumming dc-
cafillabon. 'Mongfl this kind of men
that repofc eternity in the mouth of a
player, I can but cngrofs fome deep-
read grammarians, who having no more
learning in their fkull than will ferve to
take up a commodity, nor art in their
brain, than was nouriflicd in a ferving-
man's idlenefs, will take upon them to
be the ironical ccnfors of all, when God
and Poetry doth know, they are the
fimpleft of all. To leave thefe to the
mercy of their mother-tongue, that feed
on nought but the crumbs that fall from
the tranflator's trencher, I come (fweet
friend) to thy Arcadian * Menaphon.'
. . . (Nafhe's Epiille to the Gentlemen
Students of both Univcrfitics . . . pre-
fixed to 'Menaphon' [1589], vi., pp.
9, 10.) [This is given to fliow Naflic's
fellow-feeling with Greene. — G.]
r
152 Green Pastures,
TRAVELS.
In my opinion the fitteft kind of life
for a young gentleman to take (who as
yet hath not fubdued the youthful con-
ceits of fancy nor m.ade a conqueft of
his will by wit) is to fpend his time in
travel ; wherein he fhall find both
pleafure and profit : yea, and buy that
by experience which otherwife with all
the treafure in the world he cannot
purchafe. For what changeth vanity
to virtue, ftaylefs wit to ftayed wifdom,
fond fantafies to firm affeftions, but
travel ? What reprefleth the rage of
youth and redreffeth the witlefs fury of
wanton years, but travel ? What turneth
a fecure life to a careful living ? What
maketh the foolilh wife ? yea, what in-
creafeth wit and augmenteth fkill, but
travel? in fo much that the fame Ulyfies
won was not by the ten years he lay at
Troy, but by the time he fpent in travel.
('Card of Fancy' [1587], iv., p. 19.)
Usury.
USURK
Enter the Vfurer folus zv'ith a h niter in
one hand, a dagger in tie other.
Groaning in confcicncc, burdened with
my crimes.
The hell of forrow haunts me up and
down ;
Tread where I lift, methinks the bleed-
ing ghofts
Of thofe whom my corruption brought
to nought,
Do fcrve for ftumbling-blocks before
my ftcps ;
The fatherlefs and widow wronged by
me,
The poor opprefTcd by my ufury ;
Methinks I fee their hands rcar'd up to
heaven.
To cry for vengeance of my covetoufncfs.
Whercfo I walk, all figh and (hun my
way ;
Thus I am made a monfter of the world ;
Hell gapes for mc, heaven will not hold
my foul.
You mountains, fhroud me from the
God of truth ;
Methinks I fee Him fit to judge the |
earth ;
154
Green Pastures.
See how He blots me out of the book of
life:
Oh burden more than ^tna, that I
bear.
Cover me, hills, and fhroud me from the
Lord ;
Swallow me, Lycus, fhield me from the
Lord.
In life no peace ; each murmuring that
I hear
Methinks the fentence of damnation
founds,
'Die, reprobate, and hie thee hence to
hell'
(* A Looking-glafs for London and
England' [i 594], xiv., pp. 97,98.)
r
VENGEANCE IMPLORED.
Prince <Jgay his eyes put out and hands
cut off by Acomat.
. . . Oh Thou fupreme Architect of all,
Firft Mover of thofe tenfold cryftal orbs.
Where all thofe moving and unmoving
eyes
Vengeance Implored, i^^
Behold Thy goodncfs cvcrlaftingly ;
See, unto Thee I lift thefc bloody arms :
For hands I have not for to lift to Thee ;
And in Thy jufticcdart thy fmould'ring
flame
Upon the head of ciirfcd Acomat.
Oh cruel heavens and injurious fates !
Even the laft refuge of a wretched man
Is took from me ; for how can Aga
weep ?
Or run a brinifli fliower of pearled tears,
Wanting the watery ciftcrns of his eyes?
Come, lead me back again to Bajazet,
The wofullcft and faddcll ambaflador
That ever was defpatched to any king.
('Sclimus,' xiv., p. 247.)
r
FENUS AND J DON IS.
In Cyprus fat fair Venus by a fount,
Wanton Adonis toying on her knee ;
She kiflcd the wag, her darling of
account ;
The boy 'gan blufli ; which when his
lover fee.
156 Green Pastures.
She fmiled, and told him love might
challenge debt,
And he was young, and might be wanton
yet.
The boy waxed bold, fired by fond defire,
That woo he could and court her
with conceit :
Reafon fpied this, and fought to quench
the fire
With cold difdain ; but wily Adon
ftraight
Cheered up the flame, and faid : * Good
fir, what let ?*
I am but young, and may be wanton
yet.'
Reafon replied, that beauty was a bane
To fuch as feed their fancy with fond
love ;
That when fweet youth with lull is
overta'en,
It rues in age ; this could not Adon
move,
For Venus taught him flill this reft to
set,t
That he was young, and might be
wanton yet.
* hindrance.
f a term used in the game of primerc— G.
Venus and Adonis.
^Sl
Where Venus ftrikcs with beauty to the
quick,
It little 'vails fagc Rcufon to reply ;
Few are the cures for fuch as arc lovc-
fick,
But love : then, though 1 wanton it
awry,
And play the wag, from Adon this I
get,—
I am but young, and may be wanton yet.
{' Perimedes the Blackfmith ' [1588],
vii., pp. 88, 89.)
r
JDONIS REPROl'ED.
The firen Venus nouriccd* in hci lap,
Fair Adon, fwearing whiles he was a
youth
He might be wanton ; note his aftcr-
hap,
The guerdon that fuch lawlcfs luft
cnfu'th ;
So long he followed flattering Venus'
lore,
Till, filly lad, he pcriflicd by a boar.t
* mined.
t the classical niyili.
158 Green Pastures.
Mars in his youth did court this lufty
dame ;
He won her love ; what might his
fancy let ?*
He was but young ; at laft unto his
fhame
Vulcan entrapped them flyly in a net ;
And called the gods to witnefs as a truth
A lecher's fault was not excufed by
youth.
If crooked age accounteth youth his
Spring,
The Spring, the faireft feafon of the
year;
Enriched with flowers, and fweets, and
many a thing
That fair and gorgeous to the eyes
appear ;
It fits that youth, the Spring of man,
fliould be
'Riched with fuch flowers as virtue
yieldeth thee.
{I bid. J vii., pp. 89, 90.)
r
hinder.
Venus Victrix.
VENUS riCTRIX.
Mars in a fury 'gain ft Love's brightcfl
Queen,
Put on his helm, and took to him his
lance ;
On Erycinus Mount* was Mavors fccn,
And there his enfigns did the god
advance ;
And by heaven's greatcft gates he ftouily
fwore,
Venus fhould die, for fhc had wronged
him fore.
Cupid heard this, and he began to cry,
And wifhed his mother's abfence for
awhile :
* Peace, fool,' quoth Venus ; ' Is it I
muft die ?
Muft it be. Mars ?' With that fhe
coined a fmile ;
She trimmed her treflcs, and did curl
her hair.
And made her face with beauty pafTmg
fair.
* The mountain from which Venus received
the name of Erycina was Eryx. liut Greene
and his contemporaries spelled Erycinus. — G.
P 2
i6o Green Pastures.
A fan of filver feathers in her hand,
And in a coach of ebony fhe went :
She pafled the place where furious Mars
did ftand,
And out her looks a lovely fmile fhe
fent ;
Then from her brows leaped out fo
fharp a frown,
That Mars for fear threw all his armour
down.
He vowed repentance for his rafh mif-
deed,
Blaming his choler that had caufed
his v/oe :
Venus grew gracious, and with him
agreed,
But charged him not to threaten
beauty fo ;
For women's looks are fuch enchanting
charms
As can fubdue the greateft god in
arms.
(' Ciceronis Amor' [1589], vii., pp.
133, I34-)
r
Woman.
irOMJN.
Diicourtcous women, Nature's laircll ill,
The woe of man, that lirll: created curfc,
Bale female iex, Iprung from black Atcs'
loins,
Proud and difdainful, cruel and unjiill ;
Whofc words arc fhaded with enchant-
ing wiles
Worfe than Mcdufa, mateth* all our
minds :
And in their heart fits fliamelcfs treachery,
Turning a truthlcfs, vile circumference.
O, could my fury paint their furies
forth !
For hell's no hell, compared to their
hearts ;
Too fimple devils to conceal their arts ;
• Born to be plagues unto the thoughts
of men ;
Brought for eternal pellilence to the
world.
('Orlando Furiofo,' xiii., pp. 149, 150.)
confounds.
1 62 Green Pastures.
Woman — compared to a Rofe.
Marry, ... I can aptly compare a
woman to a Rofe : for as we cannot
enjoy the fragrant fmell of the one
without fharp prickles, fo we cannot
pofTefs the virtues of the other without
fhrewifli conditions ; and yet neither
the one nor the other can well be
forborne, for they are neceflary evils.
(' Morando ' [1587], iii., p. loi.)
r
Compartfons Defcr'iptive of a Fair Woman
{Sephepa),
All this while Menaphon fate amongft
the fhrubs, fixing his eyes on the glorious
obje6l of her face : he noted her trefles,
which he compared to the coloured
hyacinth of Arcadia ; her brows to the
mountain fnows that lie on the hills ;
her eyes to the gray glifter of Titan's
gorgeous mantle ; her alabafter neck to
the whitenefs of his flocks ; her teeth
to pearl ; her face to borders of lilies
interfeamed with rofes : to be brief, our
Woman.
Ihcphcrd Mcnaphon, that heretofore
was an athciil to love, and as the
ThcfTalian of Bacchus, fo he, a con-
temner of Venus, was now by the wily
fhaft of Cupid fo entangled in the per-
fedlion and beauteous excellence of
Sepheftia, as now he fworc no benign
planet but Venus, no god but Cupid,
nor exquifite deity but Love, (* Mena-
phon'[i589], vi., p. 49.)
r
t/fn only Daughter.
One only daughter of fuch excellent
exquifite perfeftion as Nature in her
feemed to wonder at her own works.
Her hair was like the fhine of Apollo,
when, fhaking his glorious trelTes, he
makes the world beauteous with his
brightncfs. The ivory of her face over-
daflied with a vermilion dye, feemed like
the blufli that leapt from Endymion's
cheeks when Cynthia courts him on the
hills of Latmos. ('Ciceronis Amor'
[1589], vii., pp. 105, 106.)
r
163
164 Green Pastures.
THE TEOMANJNDPEASJNTRT
OF OLD ENGLAND*
Enter the Jujlice^ a towjifman [of IVake-
Jield'^, George a Greene^and Sir Nicholas
Mannering with his cotnmijfton.
Juftice. Mafler Mannering, ftand afide
whilft we confer
What is beft to do. Townfmen of
Wakefield,
The Earl of Kendal here hath fent for
viftuals,
And in aiding him we (how ourfelves
no lefs
Than traitors to the king : therefore
Let me hear, townfmen, what is your
confcnts.
Firji townfman. Even as you plcafe,
we are all content.
Jujlice. Then, Mafter Mannering, we
are refolved.
Man. As how ?
Jujlice. Marry, Sir, thus. —
We will fend the Earl of Kendal no
viduals,
* Greene's portrayal of country life and
siding with the commonalty is extremely
noticeable. See Life prefixed to his Works,
as before. — G.
The l^coman and Tcasantr\\ etc.
Bccaufc he is a traitor to the king ;
And in aiding him we'd fliow ourfelvcs
no Icfs.
Mar.. Why, men of Wakefield, arc
you waxen mad,
That prefcnt danger cannot whet your
wits,
Wifely to make provifion of yrurfclves?
The Earl is thirty thoufand men, ftrong
in power,
And what town fo ever him refill
He lays it flat and level with the ground:
Ye filly men, you feek your own decay:
Therefore fend my lord fuch provifion
as he wants,
So he will fpare your town
And come no nearer Wakefield than he is.
Jujiice. Marter Mannering, you have
your anfwer,
You may be gone.
Ma?i. Well, Woodrcffe, for fo I guefs
is thy name,
I'll make thee curfe thy overthwart
denial ;
And all that fit upon the bench this day
Shall rue the hour they have withftood
My Lord's commifiion.
Jujlice. Do thy worll, we fear thee
not.
i66
Green Pastures.
Man. See you thefe fcals ? Before
you pafs the town
I will have all things my lord doth
want,
In fpite of you.
George a Greene. Proud dapper Jack,
vail bonnet to the bench
That reprefents the perfon of the king ;
Or, firrha, I'll lay thy head before thy
feet.
Man. Why, who art thou ?
George. Why, I am George a Greene,
True liegeman to my king ;
Who fcorns that men of fuch efteem as
thefe,
Should brook the braves of any traitorous
fquire :
You of the bench, and you, my fellow
friends.
Neighbours, are fubjedls all unto the
king;
We are Englifh born, and therefore
Edward's friends,
Vowed unto him even in our mother's
womb ;
Our minds to God, our hearts unto our
king,
Our wealth, our homage, and our car-
cafes,
The Yeoman and Peasantry^ etc.
Be all King Edward's : then, firrha, we
have
I Nothing left for traitors but our Avords,
I Whetted to bathe them in your bloods,
and die
'Gainft you, before we fend you any
victuals.
Jujiice. Well fpoken, George a
Greene.
Firfi town/man. Pray let George a
Greene fpeak for us.
George. Sirrha, you get no viduals
here,
Not if a hoof of beef would fave your
lives. ♦
Man. Fellow, I ftand amaz'd at thy
prefumption :
Why, what art thou that dareft gainfay
my lord,
Knowing his mighty puifTance and his
ftroke ?
Why, my friend, I come not barely of
myfelf ;
For fee, I have a large commiffion.
George. Let me fee it, firrha.
\_Takes the commijjton.
Whofe fcals be thefe ?
Man. This is the Earl of Kendal's
feal at arms ;
i68
Green Pastures.
This Lord Charncl Bonfield's ;
And this Sir Gilbert Armllrong's.
George. I tell thee, firrha, did good
King Edward's Ton
Seal a commifTion 'gainll: the King hi?
father,
Thus would I tear it in defpitc of him.
\^He tears the commijjion.
Being traitor to my fovereign.
Ma?i. What ? Haft thou torn my
lord's commiffion ?
Thou flialt rue it, and fo fhall all Wake-
field.
George. What, are you in choler ? I
will give you pills
To cool your ftomach. Seeft thou thefe
feals ?
Now by my father's foul,
Which was a yeoman when he was alive ;
Eat them, or eat my dagger's point,
proud fquire.
Man. But thou doft but jeft, I hope.
George. Sure that fhall you fee before
we two part.
Man. Well, an' there be no remedy,
fo, George.
\ Swallows one of the feals.
One is gone : I pray thee no more
now.
^he Teoman and Peasantry^ etc.
George. O, Sir,
If one be good, the others cannot
hurt ;
So, Sir.
\Mannering fwallows the other two feals.
Now you may go and tell the Earl of
Kendal,
Although I have rent his large com-
miffion,
Yet of courtefy I have fent all his feals
Back again by you.
Man. Well, Sir, I will do your errand.
[Exit.
George. Now let him tell his lord,
that he hath fpoke
With George a Greene,
Hight Pinner of merry Wakefield town;
That hath phyfic for a fool.
Pills for a traitor, that doth wrong his
fovereign :
Are you content with this that I have
done ?
Jujiice. Ay, content, George :
For highly hall thou honoured Wakefield
town.
In cutting of proud Manncring fo
Ihort.
Come, thou flialt be my welcome gueft
to-day ;
170 Green Pastures.
For well thou haft deferved reward and
favour. [Exeunt omnes*
('The Pinner of Wakefield' [1599],
xiv., pp. 124-129.)
YOUTH DEGENERATE.
Youth, which in the golden age de-
lighted to try their virtues in hard
armours, take their only content in
delicate and effeminate amours. ('Plane-
tomachia'[i585], v., p. 39.)
WOMAN'S EYES.
A Queflion.
On women Nature did beftow two eyes,
Like heaven's bright lamps in match-.
lefs beauty Ihining ;
Whofe beams do fooneft captivate the
wife
And wary heads made rare by Art's
refining.
But why did Nature in her choice
combining
Woman s Eyes.
Plant two fair eyes within a beauteous
face ?
That they might favour two with equal
grace.
Venus did foothe up Vulcan with one eye,
With th' other granted Mars his
wifhcd glee ;
If flie did fo who Hymen did defy,
Think love no fm but grant an eye
to me ;
In vain elfe Nature gave two liars to
thee :
If then two eyes may well two friends
maintain.
Allow of two, and prove not Nature
vain.
('Philomela' [1592], xi., p. 142.
Anfzver,
Nature forefeeing how men would de-
vife
More wiles^than Proteus, women to
entice,
Granted them two, and thofe bright
fhining"eyes.
To pierce into men's faults if they
were wife ;
For they with fhow of virtue made
their vice :
_ — -^
172 Green Pastures.
Therefore to women's eyes belong thefe
gifts,
The one mull love, the other fee men's
fliifts.
Both thefe await upon one fimple heart,
And what they choofe, it hides up
without change.
The emerald will not with his portrait
part.
Nor will a woman's thoughts delight
to range ;
They hold it bad to have fo bad
exchange.
One heart, one friend, though that two
eyes do choofe him
No more but one, and heart v/ill never
lofe him.
(Ibid., p. 149.)
THE DEAD WIFE SOON
FORGOTTEN.
Lambert, Why, Serlfby, is thy wife fo
lately dead ?
Are all thy loves fo lightly paiTed over.
As thou canft wed before the year be
out?
The Bead Wife Soon Forgotten,
173
Scrljhy. I live not, Lambert, to con-
tent the dead,
Xor was I wedded but for life to her ;
The grave ends and begins a married
flate.
('Friar Bacon,' xiii., p. 70.)
THE EKD.
^"'^fStock.e., Paternoster Rc^,
I-<»tdon,E.C.
OTHER VOLUMES OF the ELIZABETHAN LIBRARY
UNIFORM WITH
' EDMUND SPENSER.'
Wotb6 t^df (guxn.
FROM THE WRITINGS OF
FRANCIS BACON,
Edited, with a Preface, by ALEXANDER B. GROSART.
The writings of Bacon lend themselves most easily to the
process of selection, inasmuch as they abound with striking
thoughts, brilliant passages, weighty sayings and well-balanced
aphorisms.
The extracts in the present volume of the Elizabethan
Library are representative of many works and different dates
and styles of writing. They are mainly from what have well
been called the Literary works as distinguished from the Legal
and Philosophical writings : though these have been also made
to yield their contributions.
@. (gol^tt of ©efts^fB :
Being Interwoven Verse and Prose from the Works of
NICHOLAS BRETON,
With an Introduction on his Life and Characteristics of his
Writings, and a Facsimile of Breton's Handwriting.
The writings of Breton are almost as numerous and varied in
character as those of Defoe, a complete list of them filling many
pages with quaint and curious titles. _The_ variety of their
subjects is remarkable, and evidences the diversity of his powers,
the penetrativeness of his observation of nature and human
nature, the readiness and sprightliness of his wit, and his in-
dubitable poetic gift.
ELLIOT STOCK, 62, Paternoster Row, LONDON.'E.C.
THE ELIZABETHAN LIBRARY— continued.
^ C(Xiinct of (Berne,
CUT AND FOLISHED BY
SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.
Now, for the more Radiance, presented without their Setting by
George Macdonald.
The volume contains some of the choicest and most striking
passages from Sir Philip Sidney's writings, classified and
arranged under suitable subjects, and accompanied by a few
short notes and explanations of obsolete words where such
elucidations are needed, and an introduction by the Editor.
Choice Qpd00A3t6 from i^c HJJriti
inge of ^it ^AfUt (gafets^,
BEING A
Small Sheaf of Gleanings from a Golden Harvest.
The Editor in his Introduction says, concerning the principle
on which they have been made, ' an endeavour has been made
to bring together representative quotations whereby to illustrate
his distinction of style, _the_ stately march of his sentences, his
cultured allusiveness, his picked and packed words, and at the
same time to preserve personal traits of character, opinion and
sentiment, and the lights and shadows of his splendid and many-
sided career — the career of an Englishman of high heroic mould,
whose simple name abides a spell to all the English-speaking
LONDON : C
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